Origin, Meaning, And History Of Hansel
Hansel is a literary name derived from the German name Hänsel. Hänsel is the German diminutive of Hans which is the German shortened version of Johannes. Johannes, in turn, is the Latin form of the Greek ‘Ioannes.’ The English name John is also derived from this name. Ioannes comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan meaning ‘Yahweh is gracious’ or ‘God is gracious.’ It is derived from the Hebrew root elements ‘yo’ meaning the Hebrew God and ‘chanan’ meaning ‘to be gracious.’ As per its German roots, the name simply means ‘little Hans.’
This is the name of the boy in the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale Hansel and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel). The story was written in 1812 and this name came into existence. Hansel is used not only as a first name but also as a surname. It has many spellings including Ansell, Anselm, Hancel, Haensel, Hensel, Hanzel, and Henschel. These surnames have been in use since before the 7th century and they have Germanic origins. They could have been derived from a personal name consisting of the Germanic elements ‘ans’ meaning ‘God’ and ‘helm’ meaning ‘protector’ or ‘helmet.’
Apart from Hansel and Gretel, Hansel is the name of the main character in the German fairy taleGambling Hansel.This was one of the stories the Brothers Grimm collected for their book Children’s and Household Tales in 1812. Moreover, Hansel is one of the main characters in the 2001 comedy movie,Zoolander. The role was played by Owen Wilson.
The name also belongs to a famous race horse who won the final two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown races in 1991 and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding 3-Year-Old Male Horse. There is a village in Ayrshire, Scotland named Hansel and a Filipino biscuit company founded in 1963.
Hansel
Boy
Hebrew
How To Pronounce Hansel?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Hansel in English.
Famous People With The Name Hansel
- Hansel MiethGerman photojournalist, known for her work in the LIFE magazine portraying working-class Americans in the 1930s and 1940s
- Hansel Manuel RoblesDominican baseball player, known for formerly playing in Major League Baseball (MLB)
- Deeann HanselAmerican tennis player, known for facing Martina Navratilova in the 1985 Australian Open
- Howell HanselAmerican film director, known for directing movies such as The Million Dollar Mystery and The Long Trail
- Marion HänselFrench-Belgian film director, actress, and screenwriter, known for directing the movie Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Phillip Sand HanselAmerican swimming coach for Olympic teams
Hansel On The Popularity Chart
According to the SSA graphs, Hansel has seen quite some activity in the last few years. Take a look at them to get an idea of how the name has fared.
Popularity Over Time
Up until the 2000s, the name was rarely used. In 2014, the name saw a sudden surge in popularity. In 2021, 134 babies per million were named Hansel.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Hansel ranked highest in 1983 at 13,988. After that, the name steadily dropped in ranking till 2010. There was some improvement afterward and in 2021, the name ranked 18,908.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Hansel
If you liked the sound of this name, here are some other names that sound similar.
Popular Sibling Names For Hansel
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Hansel, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Hansel
Find matching brother names for Hansel and create a wonderful team of siblings.
Haines
Hannes
Hans
Hansal
Hansaraj
Hansaraja
Hansen
Hansford
Hansi
Hansik
Girl Sibling Names For Hansel
Looking for some suitable sister names for Hansel? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
Haana
Hana
Hanah
Hananiah
Hanika
Hanna
Hannah
Hannalee
Hanneke
Hanny
Other Popular Names Beginning With H
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter H to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Hansel
If you liked the divine meaning of Hansel, here are some other names with similar meanings. They might have different spellings and pronunciations.
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
hansel
In Sign Language
hansel
In Braille Alphabet
hansel
In Morse Code
hansel
名称数字命理学汉斯
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Hansel?
The name Hansel means ‘Yahweh is gracious.’
2.什么is the origin of the name Hansel?
Hansel has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Hansel?
Hansel is pronounced as ‘han-sel.’
4. Is Hansel a rare name?
Yes, Hansel is considered a rare name in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration, Hansel last appeared on the popular baby name chart in 1917 when 44 baby boys shared the name (1).
5. Is Hansel a Catholic name?
The name Hansel is not specifically associated with any religion, but it is a name that has indirect connections with the Biblical name John. Hansel is considered to be more of a literary name as compared to a Catholic name.
6. What are some middle names that go well with the name Hansel?
The masculine name Hansel has been popularized as a character from one of the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. To follow this pattern, masculine names that are popular in the literary world may be chosen as middle names. They areOliver, from Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist;Darcy, from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice; and Victor, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
7. Is Hansel considered a traditional name or a modern name?
Hansel may be a modern derivation of the more historical Johannes. The name may have first appeared around the 1800s in the fairytale Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm.
References:
- Popularity of the Name Hansel;
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
