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").