Hanan
Meaningtenderness, compassion · Arabic
Hanan is an Arabic girl name meaning “tenderness, compassion”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Hanan and you get Hanna. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Hanan has the name Ana hiding inside it.
- GenerationHanan peaked in 2018, which makes it a Gen Alpha name. The typical Hanan you'd meet today is about 7 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Hanan would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 27,701 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryHanan first shows up in US birth records in 1966, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 59 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Hanans? Head to Minnesota, where it's the #597 girl name, its best showing of any state.
- Boy or girlHanan truly works for either: 87% of the 67 babies named Hanan in 2025 were girls, the rest boys.
US births per million girls, 1966–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Hanan
Hanan is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “tenderness, compassion”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 2010s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Hanan
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Hanan
What does the name Hanan mean?
Hanan means “tenderness, compassion” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Layan (“softness, tenderness”) and Leen (“tenderness, softness”).
What is the origin of the name Hanan?
Hanan is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Hanan a boy or girl name?
Hanan is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year. In 2025, 58 US girls were named Hanan.
How popular is the name Hanan?
Hanan ranked #2,895 for US girls in 2025, given to 58 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it reached #2,584. Over the last five years it has climbed 36 places.
What names are similar to Hanan?
If you like Hanan, you might also like Hannan, Layan and Leen. Hannan is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Hanan?
Hanan is an Arabic girl name meaning “tenderness, compassion”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.