Hans (name)

Hans
PronunciationUS: /hɑːnz/ HAHNZ, UK: /hænz/ HANZ
Danish: [hænˀs]
German: [hans]
Dutch: [ɦɑns]
Hindi: [ɦɐ̃ns]
GenderMale
Name dayOctober 25 (Germany)
August 29 (Sweden)
June 24th (Norway, Estonia, Denmark)
December 27 (Finland)
Origin
Word/namePet form of Johannes
Meaning"God has been gracious"
Region of originGerman, Dutch, Scandinavian
Other names
Pet form(s)Hampus
Related namesHanni, Hanno, Hánno, Hannu, Hánsa, Hansi, Hanski, Hanssi, Hanse, Hansu, Hensar, Hampe, Hanseraq, Hansinnguaq, Hasse

Hans is a male given name in Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Faroese, German, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish-speaking populations. It was originally short for Johannes (Ioannes), but is now also recognized as a name in its own right for official purposes. The earliest documented usage was in 1356 in Sweden, 1360 in Norway, and the 14th century in Denmark.

The name Hansel (German: Hänsel, IPA: [ˈhɛnzl̩] ) is a diminutive, meaning "little Hans". Another diminutive with the same meaning is Hänschen (IPA: [ˈhɛnsçn̩] ), found in the German proverb was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr; which translates roughly as "what Hansel doesn't learn, Hans will never learn".

Separately derived, Hans is also a male given name meaning "swan" in the Sanskrit language families of the Indian subcontinent.