How to say it
HANK
hæŋk
Masculine
Hank
Home-ruler
What it means
A medieval English short for Henry, by way of Hankin, from Germanic 'home' plus 'ruler.'
Hank started as a medieval nickname for Henry, through the pet form Hankin, and carries Henry's meaning, 'ruler of the home.' It has a plainspoken, all-American swagger, worn by greats like home-run king Hank Aaron and country pioneer Hank Williams, with King of the Hill's Hank Hill on the lighter side. Once a Henry short, it now stands proudly on its own. Retro and warm.
How to spell Hank
The standard spelling is Hank. Common variants include Hanke, Henry, but Hank is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #413 in 2025, currently #413 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
A medieval short for Henry, long since a standalone name.
- Pop culture
Hank Aaron, Hank Williams, and Hank Hill.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Hank Aaron Hall of Fame baseball home-run record holder
- Hank Williams pioneering country music singer-songwriter
Spelling variants
- Hanke
- Henry
Names with the same feeling
See Hank from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Hank mean?
- A medieval English short for Henry, by way of Hankin, from Germanic 'home' plus 'ruler.'
- What does Hank mean in English?
- In English, Hank means "Home-ruler." Hank started as a medieval nickname for Henry, through the pet form Hankin, and carries Henry's meaning, 'ruler of the home.' It has a plainspoken, all-American swagger, worn by greats like home-run king Hank Aaron and country pioneer Hank Williams, with King of the Hill's Hank Hill on the lighter side. Once a Henry short, it now stands proudly on its own. Retro and warm.
- Is Hank short for Henry?
- Yes. Hank is a short form of Henry, and it carries the same meaning, "Home-ruler." These days many parents use Hank as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Hank?
- Hank is pronounced hæŋk. Say it as HANK, with the stress on the "hank" syllable.
- How do you spell Hank?
- The standard spelling is Hank. Common spelling variants include Hanke, Henry.
- Is Hank a boy or girl name?
- Hank is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Hank?
- Hank ranked #413 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.