Hank is probably best known as a diminutive of Henry or Harry, but it is thought to trace back to the medieval name Hankin. This name was in turn a pet name of Johan and translates to “little John”. With Hank being perhaps most familiar as a given name, its down-to-earth coolness definitely deserves a resurgence.
Separately, the Dutch brought “Henk” to the New World colonies in the 17th century; Henk being a diminutive of Hendrick (Dutch equivalent of Henry). This is how Hank developed as a short-form for Henry in the United States.
William to Bill
Either way, the first written evidence of a William being called Bill was in the late 17th century when Irishmen mocked King William III of England by calling the hated Protestant conqueror "King Billy."
Henk is a boy's name.
Henry originally came from the German name Heinrich or Heimrich, “Heim” meaning home and “rich” meaning ruler. The name Henry is also a common surname with origins in Irish, English, and French cultures.
Hank is probably best known as a diminutive of Henry or Harry, but it is thought to trace back to the medieval name Hankin.
Why is Ted short for Edward? The name Ted is yet another result of the Old English tradition of letter swapping. Since there were a limited number of first names in the Middle Ages, letter swapping allowed people to differentiate between people with the same name.
With its timeless popularity and meaning, “ruler of the household”, Hank is a great choice for parents looking for a strong and dependable name for their baby boy. Whether you're a fan of country music or simply looking for a classic and classic name, Hank is sure to be a great choice.
Hank was named for King Hiram of Tyre.
Hank in Irish is Haincín.
The name Jack is a derivative of John, which originated in medieval England. The name went from John to Johnkin to Jankin to Jackin to, you guessed it, Jack. There is also a theory that Jack is Celtic in origin, meaning "healthy, strong, and full of vital energy."
Charlie is a traditionally masculine given name in English-speaking countries, often a nickname for Charles, but is now used as a unisex name.
Peggy from Margaret
Over the years, Maggie morphed into Meggie and Meg, likely because of accents changing the vowel sound. That continued to transform into the Peggy and Peg we know today, based simply on a trend of creating nicknames that rhyme. It's the same reason we have Bill from William.
Margaret has many diminutive forms in many different languages, including Maggie, Madge, Daisy, Margarete, Marge, Margo, Margie, Marjorie, Meg, Megan, Rita, Greta, Gretchen, and Peggy.
Elizabeth Nicknames: Betty, Liza, Elle.
Girl Names Like Hank
A top pick is Hank's feminine counterpart, Henrietta.
Finn is a boy's name of Irish origin, meaning “fair.” Coming from the Irish Fionn, Finn was the anglicized name of a mythical Irish warrior and folklore hero. As a child, this little boy was blessed by the salmon of knowledge, giving him the wisdom and bravery to later, along with his followers, protect the king.
Hal is a masculine given name, often a diminutive form (hypocorism) of Harold, Henry or Harvey, and a nickname.
Please note that popular names listed below are not necessarily consistently popular in every year. For example, the name James, ranked as the most popular male name over the last 100 years, has been ranked as low as number 19. Similarly, the most popular female name in the table, Mary, ranked as low as 136.
1 out of every 2,610 baby boys born in 2021 are named Hank.
Harry, its English short form, was considered the "spoken form" of Henry in medieval England. Most English kings named Henry were called Harry.
Billy is a given name and a common nickname for William. Notable people with the name include: Billy the Kid (1859–1881), American Old West gunfighter born Henry McCarty, also known as William H.
It is sometimes abbreviated "Wm." Shortened familiar versions in English include Will, Wills, Willy, Willie, Bill, and Billy.
Liam is a short form of the Irish name Uilliam or the old Germanic name William.