Francis
Francis is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Frenchman or free man.
Origin and history
Francis is derived from the Late Latin name Franciscus, meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free man'. While historically more common for males, Francis has a long history of usage as a female given name in the United States, though the spelling Frances is typically more frequent for females. It carries a classic, traditional feel.
Popularity in the United States
29,832 babies in the United States have been named Francis since 1880. It ranks #834 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1556.
States where it is most popular
- TX (17.3 %)
- CA (7.6 %)
- MS (5.8 %)
- LA (5.4 %)
- NY (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 671 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,090 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,429 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,393 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,110 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,576 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,881 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,114 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,496 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,278 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,426 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,381 |
| 2000-2010 | 789 |
| 2010-2019 | 651 |
| 2020-2029 | 547 |
Famous people named Francis
- Francis Farmer: Actress
Nicknames
Fran, Frankie, Franny
Fun facts
- While Francis is traditionally the masculine spelling and Frances the feminine, both spellings have been consistently documented for women in U.S. birth records.
- The name ultimately traces back to the Germanic tribe of the Franks, whose name was associated with the word for 'free'.