Francis Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Francis

Francis Name Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: f-ran-cis, fr(a)-ncis
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Francis Name Meaning

The name Francis is generally understood to mean “free” or “Frenchman”. However, the true meaning of the name is a bit more complex. The name Francis was originally given to boys born in France, and it was meant to reflect the cultural and linguistic ties of the person to the country. Over time, the name evolved to symbolize freedom and liberation in a more abstract sense. Today, many parents choose the name Francis for their sons because they associate it with the qualities of freedom, independence, and courage.

Origins of the Name Francis

Francis, a classic name with a rich history, has been a popular choice for boys for centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the Latin word “franciscus”, which means “free man” or “Frenchman”. The name is most famously associated with Saint Francis of Assisi, the Catholic friar who lived in the 12th and 13th centuries. He is considered the patron saint of animals and the environment, and his teachings have inspired many people over the centuries.

Popularity of the Name Francis

The name Francis has been popular for centuries, and its popularity has remained relatively steady over time. In the early 20th century, Francis was one of the most popular names in the United States, and it remained in the top 100 names for boys until the 1960s. Today, the name is still popular, but it has fallen out of the top 100 names. Despite this, Francis is still a popular choice for boys, and it is especially popular among Catholic families.

Famous Francis

Throughout history, many famous people have borne the name Francis. Perhaps the most famous Francis is Saint Francis of Assisi, who is remembered for his devotion to God and his love of nature. Other famous Francises include:

Francis Bacon, the English philosopher and statesman
Francis Ford Coppola, the American film director and producer
Francis Drake, the English explorer and pirate
Francis Scott Fitzgerald, the American writer and author of “The Great Gatsby”
Francis Gary Powers, the American pilot who was shot down during the Cold War.

One fun fact about the name Francis is that it has been used as a nickname for many famous people over the years. For example, George Washington was sometimes referred to as “Francis” because of his association with the ideals of freedom and liberty. Similarly, the famous writer and philosopher Francis Bacon was often called “Frank” or “Francis”. These nicknames reflect the close connection between the name Francis and the values of freedom and independence.

Final Thoughts on the Name Francis

Francis is a classic name with a rich history and a deep connection to the ideals of freedom and independence. Whether you are a parent looking for a strong and meaningful name for your son, or simply someone who is interested in the history of names, Francis is definitely a name worth considering. With its enduring popularity and association with some of history’s most famous and influential figures, the name Francis is sure to remain a classic choice for generations to come.

Francis Name Popularity

How popular is the name Francis? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	36	978	0.2778%
1911	34	1,293	0.3472%
1912	35	2,505	0.4967%
1913	30	3,201	0.5646%
1914	31	3,890	0.5582%
1915	29	5,588	0.6151%
1916	30	5,643	0.5842%
1917	30	5,797	0.5794%
1918	30	6,345	0.5912%
1919	34	5,725	0.5467%
1920	34	6,237	0.5609%
1921	35	6,290	0.5493%
1922	34	6,143	0.5514%
1923	34	6,083	0.5431%
1924	34	6,127	0.5276%
1925	35	5,972	0.5284%
1926	35	5,786	0.5261%
1927	36	5,643	0.5098%
1928	40	5,507	0.5147%
1929	39	5,268	0.5086%
1930	42	4,986	0.4773%
1931	42	4,730	0.4792%
1932	43	4,387	0.444%
1933	45	4,091	0.4391%
1934	49	3,998	0.4136%
1935	53	3,886	0.3999%
1936	50	3,868	0.4015%
1937	55	3,721	0.3776%
1938	51	3,941	0.385%
1939	53	3,716	0.3653%
1940	61	3,596	0.3383%
1941	60	3,732	0.3316%
1942	58	4,293	0.34%
1943	63	4,065	0.3114%
1944	71	3,646	0.2942%
1945	75	3,440	0.2821%
1946	80	4,000	0.2711%
1947	84	4,208	0.2521%
1948	79	4,206	0.2635%
1949	78	4,279	0.266%
1950	86	4,079	0.2533%
1951	85	4,199	0.2477%
1952	89	3,973	0.2276%
1953	90	3,863	0.2183%
1954	94	3,681	0.2014%
1955	101	3,427	0.1863%
1956	111	3,283	0.1738%
1957	128	2,927	0.1521%
1958	135	2,606	0.1379%
1959	136	2,635	0.1387%
1960	145	2,409	0.1271%
1961	148	2,329	0.1234%
1962	148	2,286	0.1245%
1963	153	2,154	0.12%
1964	158	2,051	0.1165%
1965	164	1,799	0.11%
1966	164	1,667	0.1068%
1967	168	1,561	0.1029%
1968	175	1,495	0.0996%
1969	190	1,398	0.0907%
1970	193	1,367	0.0859%
1971	200	1,187	0.079%
1972	223	939	0.0689%
1973	225	931	0.0718%
1974	234	843	0.0649%
1975	219	919	0.0715%
1976	241	805	0.0625%
1977	235	865	0.0642%
1978	228	889	0.0661%
1979	238	890	0.0631%
1980	247	875	0.0598%
1981	237	939	0.0639%
1982	237	953	0.0638%
1983	234	928	0.0629%
1984	247	856	0.0575%
1985	247	883	0.0582%
1986	252	859	0.0569%
1987	248	904	0.0592%
1988	245	925	0.0594%
1989	274	871	0.054%
1990	285	871	0.0526%
1991	313	784	0.0481%
1992	319	762	0.0477%
1993	337	703	0.0451%
1994	342	683	0.0445%
1995	353	651	0.0432%
1996	393	558	0.0373%
1997	388	577	0.039%
1998	413	535	0.0357%
1999	436	493	0.0329%
2000	442	506	0.0331%
2001	456	486	0.0323%
2002	514	402	0.0268%
2003	526	408	0.0268%
2004	530	405	0.0266%
2005	533	413	0.027%
2006	578	384	0.0245%
2007	619	349	0.0221%
2008	676	305	0.0197%
2009	700	292	0.0195%
2010	673	302	0.021%
2011	606	346	0.0243%
2012	597	369	0.0259%
2013	503	495	0.0348%
2014	476	549	0.0377%
2015	478	574	0.0394%
2016	477	594	0.0412%
2017	463	604	0.0433%
2018	474	562	0.0409%
2019	477	554	0.0409%
2020	484	561	0.0441%
2021	464	603	0.0493%
2022	457	633	0.048%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Francis

If you like Francis, you’ll love these other names like Francis.

What names are diminutives of Francis?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Francis sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Francis, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Frank	Frenchman	English

What names are variants of Francis?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Francis.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Chico	Boy, lad	Spanish
Ferenc	Free man	Hungarian
Feri	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Fran	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Francesco	Frenchman; free man	Spanish
Franche	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franchesco	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franchesko	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franchot		French
Francisco	From France	Spanish
Franciscus	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franciskus	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franco	Frenchman; free man	Latin

Francois	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franio	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frank	Frenchman	English
Frankie	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franko	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frann	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frannie	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frans	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Fransisco	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frants	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frantz	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franz	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franzel	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franzen	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Franzin	Frenchman; free man	Latin

Frasco	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frascuelo	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Frasquito	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Paco	Free	Spanish
Pacorro	Frenchman; free man	Spanish
Panchito	Frenchman; free man	Latin
Pancho		Spanish
Paquito		Spanish

Lists With Francis

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Francis.

Share Your Thoughts

9 Comments

Mary Nov 11 at 9:13 am

I’ve always loved Saint Francis of Assisi! My husband and I also just love the name Francis. His big brother is a poodle named Bonaventure so we’ve got a Franciscan thing going on now…Bonaventure is his Brother Wolf!

Reply
Kayla & Michael Oct 14 at 11:28 am

Francis was born on Sunday, September 8th after a a long & difficult labor. This is the same day as the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God’s birthday! Mary has had a hand in my walk with Jesus, as well as in Michael & my relationship, so for his birthday to be shared with hers is so special! We decided to name him after St. Francis of Assisi who had a deep Marian devotion 🙂

Reply
REALCHOICE Feb 7 at 12:33 am

I so much love the name from origin, the name is also bear by my late father and because of the love I have for my late father I have decided to give my first son the name Francis and if it’s turn to be twins I will give them Francis and Franko.

Reply
Francis Dec 5 at 1:55 am

I love the name Francis it’s my name
And it’s a perfect name for me

Reply
- Francis Jan 22 at 6:33 am
  
  Same mate. Francis here as well. I am a strong man, lover of freedom, with French and Scandinavian roots. Perfect name.
  
  Reply
Jenny Lux Aug 3 at 11:14 am

I love the name Frank. But my husband thought it was too informal. His name is just Leo, so I took his word for it. I suggested Franklin as a name, but he said it was like the turtle. (This is when I learned that my husband was picky with names.) I hadn’t suggested Francis before because I thought he wouldn’t like it. Unlikely enough, he came to me with the name. I agreed immediately. So then we had our first name, but the middle was undecided, we were going to choose our second choice but they were all names like Franklin. So his name would be Frank Franklin which is a recipe for teasing. We thought about Luke or Bryce but neither of us was a fan of the 1 syllable name with Francis or Frank. We wanted that was great for both Frank and Francis. I wanted Mason, but my husband hates names with “son” as a middle name because “It sounds like a last name.” At that point I was just tired of names, I told him to chose names and I would decide if I liked it. It was weeks before he came to me with a name. Xavi, I was just like “Okay.” But the more I thought of it the more I liked it. his initials are F.X.L, which is really cool.

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Elizabeth and Nick Oct 3 at 6:27 pm

We picked the name Francis for our son because St. Francis of Assisi is my husband, Nick’s favorite Saint. We’re looking forward to teaching our son about the man he was named after.

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Edgy Buffoon Mar 11 at 8:17 pm

It’s a girl. We like it.

Reply
Sara Jun 13 at 3:14 pm

We love the St. Francis prayer, “make me a channel of your peace…” (it goes on and is basically the “be the change you wish to see in the world” prayer) and we thought Frankie as a nick name was very cute. Turns out it fits him perfectly!

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Francis