Given name & surname
Hansen
“the son of Hans”
Hansen is a variant of Hanson. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Hans.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Hansen is a variant of Hanson. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Hans.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Hansen is a variant of Hanson. An origin associated with Hanson is Scandinavian.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Hansen as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Hans.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hansen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 887
- 887 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 36 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #3,335 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +18%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,335 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 18.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 36 in 2016. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 912 as a first name in 2020; 135,050 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hansen’s family of names
In English usage, Hansen as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Hans. Hansen has a related form in Hanson. In English usage, Hansen shares an earlier linguistic root with Johnson.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Hansen has relatives in 5 languages.
8 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Hansen
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Hansen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Holden
“one who is willing and eager” · “from the hollow in the valley”
99% boys · 1% girls
Harrison
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“one who is fiery; little fire” · “a fiery young man”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kaiden
“a beloved companion”
99% boys · 1% girls
Zayden
“to become greater; to grow”
>99% boys
Camden
“from the winding valley”
95% boys · 5% girls
Kayden
“a beloved companion”
97% boys · 3% girls
Paxton
“from the peaceful town”
95% boys · 5% girls