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The Case of the Phantom Classic Baby Name
Filed under: Baby Names
What do you think of naming our baby boy Hans? We like the classic feel of it and it reflects our heritage, but we're wondering why it is pretty much never used anymore. Unlike other old traditional names, Hans hasn't seemed to make its way back to popularity. While this is something we like (a unique name), we can't help but wonder..."why?"
- Wondering Woman
With so many old-fashioned names making a comeback today, style can seem mysteriously choosy. Why has Emma risen from the ashes but Ida stayed idle? Why hasn't an old favorite like Hans come roaring back to the top the way other old-time names like Caleb and Lucas have?Every name has its own story. In the case of Hans, the answer may surprise you. Hans can't "make its way back" because it was never really here to begin with.
Yes, Hans is a classic. But it's not an American classic. Even during the 1880s, when German immigration to the U.S. was at its peak, Hans didn't make much of an impact. Forget Emma-- even names like Omer, Floy, General and Green were more popular than Hans.
What sets Hans apart from other uncommon names is history. You hear Hans and you hear the likes of Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, German artist Hans Holbein and Dutch storybook character Hans Brinker. So it's completely familiar, even though most of us have never met a real-life Hans. (The name isn't even common in Germany these days.)
From a style perspective, this can be a fine thing indeed. You've stumbled on a name that's traditional, familiar and easy to spell, yet nobody's using it. Better yet, it doesn't sound dowdy because there wasn't a generation of Grandpas Hanses to weigh it down. Those are some of the same ingredients that propelled Caleb and Lucas to the top. Because -- shh, don't tell -- those two "old timers" weren't really big in the old days either.
Have you been tempted by uncommon names? Share your experiences! And if you have your own question to Ask the Name Lady, drop her a line!
Related: Worst Baby Name Trends of the Decade, Avoid These New Parent Mistakes
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-07-2010 @ 7:17PM
Hope said...There is a US professional beach volleyball player named Hans.
Reply
1-16-2010 @ 7:07PM
Somhair said...Yea, I'm from Ireland and Aoife is a really really old name but it is the most popular girls name name now.
My niece is named Aoife shes only two but my sister didn't realize how popular the name was until my nephew started school and met three girls called Aoife on the first day (not all in his class, there are only 11 in his class, that should show you just how popular it is, 70 in a school and 7 of them are called Aoife) and 5 people we know named their daughters Aoife since then.
Then You leave Ireland and travell to America. My sister went to stay in Malibu with her husbands cousins or something during the summer and she told me how everyone thought Aoife was really different and that nobody could pronounce it (ee-fa). So, considering we're all convinced Aoife will end up in the US eventually because of her amazing acting skills (baby jesus at two weeks old, lol) it should be ok.
Hans might not be popular in the US but it might be somewhere else, just make sure your son doesn't move there.
Reply
1-19-2010 @ 6:49AM
Jessica said...Hans is a nice name. I like it anyways. Although, I am from the generation where when: you say, Hans, I say, Star Wars!! Harrison Ford gives the name a great connotation:)
Reply