Hansel
Boy name · #1637 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
Hansel ranks #1637 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 103 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1717, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 17,476 boys born in 2025 was named Hansel.
The 120-year story
Hansel first appears in the Social Security records in 1905, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 134 boys were named Hansel — good for #1372 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Hansel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hansel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hansel in class?
Hansel scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Hansel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hansel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Hansels were TX (23), FL (13), CA (7), GA (6), NJ (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Hansel
Statistically, parents drawn to Hansel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ansel, Aksel, Mendel, Ezriel, and Raziel.
AnselAkselMendelEzrielRazielMikaelDieselShmiel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hansel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 103 | #1634 |
| 2024 | 101 | #1661 |
| 2023 | 98 | #1711 |
| 2022 | 120 | #1504 |
| 2021 | 134 | #1372 |
| 2020 | 85 | #1778 |
| 2019 | 77 | #1917 |
| 2018 | 58 | #2300 |
| 2017 | 78 | #1871 |
| 2016 | 73 | #1975 |
| 2015 | 90 | #1717 |
| 2014 | 126 | #1355 |
| 2013 | 98 | #1578 |
| 2012 | 42 | #2811 |
| 2011 | 21 | #4509 |
| 2010 | 21 | #4517 |
| 2009 | 30 | #3551 |
| 2008 | 43 | #2788 |
| 2007 | 29 | #3591 |
| 2006 | 29 | #3524 |
| 2005 | 28 | #3447 |
| 2004 | 21 | #4129 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 16 | #4703 |
| 2001 | 22 | #3721 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hansel a popular boy name?
Hansel ranked #1637 among boys in 2025 with 103 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1717.
When was the name Hansel most popular?
Hansel peaked in 2021, when 134 American boys received the name (ranked #1372 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hansel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 17,476 newborn American boys was named Hansel. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.