Hank
Hank was the 413th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 776 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 122 places. More babies were named Hank in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Henry (or of John) · English, Dutch
Say it HANGK /hæŋk/
- Rank in 2025
- #413 boys, up 70 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 776boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025776 babies
- Total since 1880
- 16,984babies recorded
What does the name Hank mean?
Hank is a pet form of Henry. Wiktionary notes it may also come from Hankin, a medieval pet form of John, which was common in the Low Countries. DMNES derives Henry from Germanic heim, "home", and rīh, "ruler". In the US Hank is associated with Hank Williams and Hank Aaron.
heim (Old High German, “home”)rīh (Old High German, “ruler”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Henry, Hankin, Harry.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Hank', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Henry', DMNES, Durham University
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Hank popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #413 | 776 |
| 2020 | #483 | 616 |
| 2010 | #806 | 266 |
| 2000 | #1,490 | 82 |
| 1990 | #1,098 | 95 |
| 1980 | #926 | 93 |
| 1970 | #660 | 154 |
| 1960 | #625 | 155 |
| 1950 | #750 | 84 |
| 1940 | #1,319 | 26 |
| 1930 | #2,230 | 13 |
| 1920 | #3,062 | 9 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Hank, counting every spelling?
Hank has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #418 for boys in 2025, against #413 on the official list, because Kason/Kasen/Casen and Mohamed/Mohammad/Mohammed and Chosen/Chozen/Chozyn move ahead once their spellings are combined.
How many kids will share the name Hank?
776 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hank (0.22 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Hank born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 11 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hank.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hank?
About 15,400 people born in the US named Hank are alive today, with a median age of 12; half are between 6 and 40. That makes Hank a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Hank by state
How common Hank was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Montana (4.7×), North Dakota (4.5×), Idaho (4.2×), Utah (3.6×), South Dakota (3.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, Nevada, New York.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Hank: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hank, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Hank · Sibling names for Hank
Hank is also a nickname for Henry.
Questions about the name Hank
What does Hank mean?
Hank means “pet form of Henry (or of John)” (English, Dutch origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Hank?
Hank was the 413th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 776 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 122 places. More babies were named Hank in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Hank a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Hank in the US.
Where is Hank most popular?
In 2021–2025, Hank was most common in Montana (1.99 per 1,000 boys), followed by North Dakota and Idaho.