Hansel Boy

Popularity: #835 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HAN-sel //ˈhæn.səl//

Origin: German; Dutch

Meaning: German: God is gracious; Dutch: little Hans

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Hansel is of Germanic origin, derived from the name Johannes, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." The name transitioned through various linguistic forms, including the Greek Ioannis and the Latin Iohannes, before evolving into the Old High German Hano and later Hans. The diminutive form Hansel emerged as a familiar or affectionate variant of Hans, particularly in German-speaking regions, and it has been used in various cultural contexts, notably in folklore and fairy tales.

Historically, the name Hansel is most famously associated with the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," first published in the early 19th century. This tale has roots in earlier oral traditions and reflects themes of childhood, survival, and the struggle against adversity.

The story's enduring popularity has contributed to the name's cultural resonance, linking it to notions of cleverness and resourcefulness, as exemplified by the character Hansel, who devises a plan to escape from danger. In addition to its literary associations, the name Hansel has been borne by various notable figures throughout history, including German artists and scholars.

Its connection to the broader tradition of names derived from Johannes has also lent it a sense of gravitas, as many saints and historical figures have carried this name. The name's journey through languages and cultures illustrates its adaptability and the way it has been embraced in different contexts, reinforcing its significance in Germanic and European heritage.

Overall, Hansel embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural storytelling, making it a name that resonates with themes of grace, cleverness, and resilience, while its diminutive form continues to evoke affection and familiarity.

Famous people named Hansel

In this section, you will find notable people named Hansel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Hansel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Hansel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Hansel Adams is a photographer best known for his black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West.

Hansel and Gretel is a fairy tale best known for its story of two siblings who encounter a witch in a forest.

Fictional characters named Hansel

The following list of fictional characters named Hansel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Hansel is a fictional character from the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel. He is one of the two siblings who navigate a dangerous forest and confront a witch who tries to eat them.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hansel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GretaLukasMilaSophieFelixEmilia

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Hansel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

HansHankHaroldHarrisonHugoHeinrichHarlanHendrik

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Hansel was first seen in the United States in 1905.

Hansel has ranked as high as #2886 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Georgia, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Hansel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Hansel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Hansel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Hansel.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 103 103 0
2024 101 101 0
2023 98 98 0
2022 120 120 0
2021 134 134 0
2020 85 85 0
2019 77 77 0
2018 58 58 0
2017 78 78 0
2016 73 73 0
2015 90 90 0
2014 126 126 0
2013 98 98 0
2012 42 42 0
2011 21 21 0
2010 21 21 0
2009 30 30 0
2008 43 43 0
2007 29 29 0
2006 29 29 0
2005 28 28 0
2004 21 21 0
2003 18 18 0
2002 16 16 0
2001 22 22 0
2000 25 25 0
1999 21 21 0
1998 19 19 0
1997 15 15 0
1996 22 22 0
1995 18 18 0
1994 22 22 0
1993 29 29 0
1992 36 36 0
1991 33 33 0
1990 31 31 0
1989 19 19 0
1988 30 30 0
1987 17 17 0
1986 20 20 0
1985 21 21 0
1984 20 20 0
1983 28 28 0
1982 20 20 0
1981 13 13 0
1980 21 21 0
1979 11 11 0
1978 11 11 0
1977 12 12 0
1976 9 9 0
1975 14 14 0
1974 14 14 0
1972 12 12 0
1971 22 22 0
1970 12 12 0
1969 15 15 0
1968 15 15 0
1967 14 14 0
1966 10 10 0
1965 16 16 0
1964 11 11 0
1963 15 15 0
1962 14 14 0
1961 16 16 0
1960 22 22 0
1959 8 8 0
1958 18 18 0
1957 19 19 0
1956 11 11 0
1955 18 18 0
1954 16 16 0
1953 28 28 0
1952 25 25 0
1951 24 24 0
1950 12 12 0
1949 25 25 0
1948 17 17 0
1947 25 25 0
1946 22 22 0
1945 19 19 0
1944 22 22 0
1943 26 26 0
1942 23 23 0
1941 19 19 0
1940 27 27 0
1939 19 19 0
1938 25 25 0
1937 25 25 0
1936 25 25 0
1935 30 30 0
1934 33 33 0
1933 23 23 0
1932 37 37 0
1931 39 39 0
1930 27 27 0
1929 37 37 0
1928 34 34 0
1927 46 46 0
1926 40 40 0
1925 43 43 0
1924 47 47 0
1923 42 42 0
1922 32 32 0
1921 38 33 5
1920 40 40 0
1919 36 36 0
1918 37 37 0
1917 44 44 0
1916 29 29 0
1915 39 39 0
1914 15 15 0
1913 15 15 0
1912 10 10 0
1911 11 11 0
1905 8 8 0

Top States for Hansel (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 18
32%
TX 17
30%
FL 8
14%
NY 8
14%
TN 5
9%