Hans is a German male given name of Hebrew origin. It means "grace" or "favor". The name is derived from the Hebrew word "chanan", which means "to be gracious".
The name Hans has a long history in Germany and other parts of Europe. It was particularly popular during the Middle Ages, with many variations of the name appearing in historical records. Some of these variants include Johannes, Johann, and Hansel.
Today, Hans is still a common name in German-speaking countries. It is also used in other parts of Europe and even beyond, as a result of German immigration and cultural influence. Despite its age, the name remains appealing due to its classic sound and positive meaning.
The name Hans peaked in popularity around the late 1950s to early 1960s with a high of 268 births in 1967 and maintained its popularity throughout the 1960s and 1970s, before declining significantly from the mid-1980s onwards. However, there has been a slight resurgence in recent years, with over 100 births per year since 2012. Overall, Hans has been given to approximately 15376 babies over the period from 1880 to 2023.