The name Spodnje Hoče literally means 'lower Hoče', contrasting with neighboring Zgornje Hoče (literally, 'upper Hoče'). The name was attested in 1146 as de Choz (and as de Chotsse in 1181 and de Chosse in 1214). The name is originally a plural demonym (*Xoťane) derived from the nickname *Xotъ (based on a longer name such as *Xotimirъ).[3]