Big, friendly man or horse
Originally an American slang term or nickname, Hoss is derived from a dialectal pronunciation of 'horse.' It gained popularity as a name through mid-20th century television, symbolizing a person of large stature with a gentle, friendly nature.
Less common today
Hoss isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #6,545 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
The gentle giant middle son played by Dan Blocker · Bonanza
A character in the video game series · Ratchet & Clank
