Hansel is a name of German origin and meaning "home ruler." It is derived from the Germanic elements "han" meaning "home" and "sala" meaning "hall" or "palace." The name Hansel was popularized in part by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, "Hansel and Gretel," although it is important to note that this story does not provide any historical information about the name. Prior to the publication of the tale in 1812, the name Hansel was relatively uncommon but has since become more widely used due to its literary association. In some cases, the name may also be a diminutive form of Johannes or Johann, which mean "God is gracious.
"Hansel was quite popular in 1921 with five newborns bearing the name that year."