hansel

Hansel is a masculine given name of German origin, a diminutive form of Hans, which itself derives from Johannes. The name is used primarily in German-speaking regions and by communities influenced by German naming traditions; it also appears as a surname on rare occasions.

In folklore, Hänsel is one of the title characters in the fairy tale Hänsel und Gretel, collected by the Brothers Grimm and first published in 1812 as part of Grimms' Fairy Tales. In the story, Hänsel and his sister Gretel are children who are abandoned in a forest by their father and cruel stepmother. Hansel uses small white pebbles to mark the path, but on a second abandonment the children drop bread crumbs that are eaten by birds, leaving them lost. They encounter a witch who intends to eat them, but the siblings outwit her and escape, returning home with treasure for their father.

The tale has been widely retold and adapted across media, including theatre, cinema, literature, and music. Notable adaptations include Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hänsel und Gretel (1893). The name Hansel, often spelled Hänsel in German, remains a recognizable reference in Western folklore and popular culture.