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Name Origin

Hans is a Germanic given name, a short form of Johannes, meaning 'God is gracious'. It is particularly common in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia.

germanicjohannesmasculinecommon

Famous People

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875)

Author, Poet, Playwright

Wrote fairy tales such as 'The Little Mermaid' and 'The Ugly Duckling'
Considered one of the founders of modern fantasy literature

Hans Zimmer (1957-)

Composer

Scored numerous blockbuster films including 'The Lion King', 'Inception', and 'Interstellar'
Won an Academy Award for Best Original Score

Hans Kelsen (1881-1973)

Legal Scholar

Developed the 'pure theory of law'
Influenced legal thinking worldwide

Hans von Bülow (1830-1894)

Pianist, Conductor, Composer

Known for his virtuoso piano playing and influential conducting career
Premiered Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1

Hans Bethe (1906-2005)

Physicist

Won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis
Contributed to the Manhattan Project

Sibling Names

Greta

Both Hans and Greta are classic Scandinavian names, sharing a similar vintage style and origin.

Wilhelm

Wilhelm is another traditional German name that echoes the strong and timeless quality of Hans.

Sophie

Sophie, like Hans, has a classic appeal and works well as both a first and middle name, creating a harmonious sibling pair.