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The short answer
Hank is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Originally a short form of Hankin, which was a medieval diminutive of John. Since the 17th century in the United States this name has also been used as a diminutive of Henry, probably under the influence of the Dutch diminutive Henk." It ranked #413 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, originally a short form of Hankin, which was a medieval diminutive of John. Since the 17th century in the United States this name has also been used as a diminutive of Henry, probably under the influence of the Dutch diminutive Henk. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Hank ranked #413 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #413 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Hank in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hank mean?
Behind the Name does not give Hank a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: originally a short form of Hankin, which was a medieval diminutive of John.
Is Hank a popular name?
Hank ranked #413 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Hank a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Hank appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Hank — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
