Given name & surname
Hanson
“the son of Hans”
Hanson is used as a given name and a surname. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Hans.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scandinavian interpretation is “the son of Hans.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scandinavian.
How it developed
In English usage, Hanson as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Hann.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1883. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hanson through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,839
- 1,839 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 56 babies
- 2025
- 41
- #3,013 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −5%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 41 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,013 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 5.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 56 in 2018. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,497 as a first name in 2020; 106,689 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.
Hanson’s family of names
In English usage, Hanson as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Hann. Hanson has a related form in Hansen. Hanson has a related form in Hanssen.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Hanson, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hakon
“of the chosen race; one who is exalted”
>99% boys
Halden
“a man who is half- Dane”
>99% boys
Janson
“the son of Jan”
>99% boys
Larson
“the son of Lawrence”
92% boys · 8% girls
Henning
“the ruler of the house” · “home”
>99% boys
Kasen
“one who is pure; chaste” · “protected by a helmet”
>99% boys
Kallan
“of the flowing water” · “powerful in battle”
83% boys · 17% girls
Esben
“of God”
>99% boys