Francis
Francis is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Frenchman or free man.
Origin and history
Francis is a traditional masculine name derived from the Late Latin name Franciscus, meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free man'. Historically associated with Saint Francis of Assisi, it has been a consistently used classic in the United States, ranking among the top 150 most common male names since 1880.
Popularity in the United States
290,490 babies in the United States have been named Francis since 1880. It ranks #127 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #448.
States where it is most popular
- PA (15.9 %)
- NY (15.4 %)
- MA (10.6 %)
- NJ (5.2 %)
- IL (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,244 |
| 1890-1900 | 4,535 |
| 1900-1910 | 7,021 |
| 1910-1920 | 41,053 |
| 1920-1930 | 59,096 |
| 1930-1940 | 41,384 |
| 1940-1950 | 39,519 |
| 1950-1960 | 34,766 |
| 1960-1970 | 19,334 |
| 1970-1980 | 10,012 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,412 |
| 1990-2000 | 7,079 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,533 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,444 |
| 2020-2029 | 4,058 |
Famous people named Francis
- Francis Scott Fitzgerald: Author, Novelist
- Francis Ford Coppola: Director, Producer
- Francis Bacon: Philosopher, Statesman
Nicknames
Frank, Frankie, Fran
Fun facts
- In 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose Francis as his regnal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, becoming the first pope to use the name.
- The name ultimately traces back to the Germanic tribe of the Franks, whose name is related to an old Germanic word for 'spear' or 'free'.