Frances
Frances: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfɹænsɪz/ · /ˈfɹɑːnsɪz/
Meaning and origin of Frances
Root meaning: “Frankish”
- A female given name from Latin, masculine equivalent Francis.
- A male given name, variant of Francis.
Etymology
From Old French Franceise, feminine form of Franceis, from Late Latin Franciscus (“Frankish”). Doublet of Francesca and Francisca.
How popular is Frances?
Since 1880, 595,697 girls and 5,024 boys in the U.S. have been named Frances (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #8 in 1918. Its highest rank for boys was #376 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #318 for girls, with 966 babies given the name.
Names similar to Frances
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Frances
Sister and brother names that share Frances's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Frances FAQ
What does the name Frances mean?
Frances traces back to a root meaning "Frankish". A female given name from Latin, masculine equivalent Francis. A male given name, variant of Francis. From Old French Franceise, feminine form of Franceis, from Late Latin Franciscus (“Frankish”). Doublet of Francesca and Francisca.
What is the origin of the name Frances?
Frances is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Frances?
Since 1880, 595,697 girls and 5,024 boys in the U.S. have been named Frances (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #8 in 1918. Its highest rank for boys was #376 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #318 for girls, with 966 babies given the name.
Is Frances a boy or girl name?
Frances is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 595,697 girls and 5,024 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.