Francis
Francis: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfɹɑːnsɪs/ · [ˈfɹʷɑːnsɪs]
Meaning and origin of Francis
Root meaning: “French(man)”
- A male given name from Latin.
- A female given name from Latin, alternative spelling of Frances.
Etymology
Borrowed from Medieval Latin Franciscus (“French(man)”) (from Francia (“France”)). Doublet of Francisco and Franz.
How popular is Francis?
Since 1880, 29,832 girls and 290,490 boys in the U.S. have been named Francis (9% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #206 in 1880. Its highest rank for boys was #29 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #420 for boys, with 891 babies given the name.
Names similar to Francis
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin boy names
Sibling name ideas for Francis
Sister and brother names that share Francis's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Francis FAQ
What does the name Francis mean?
Francis traces back to a root meaning "French(man)". A male given name from Latin. A female given name from Latin, alternative spelling of Frances. Borrowed from Medieval Latin Franciscus (“French(man)”) (from Francia (“France”)). Doublet of Francisco and Franz.
What is the origin of the name Francis?
Francis is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Francis?
Since 1880, 29,832 girls and 290,490 boys in the U.S. have been named Francis (9% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #206 in 1880. Its highest rank for boys was #29 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #420 for boys, with 891 babies given the name.
Is Francis a boy or girl name?
Francis is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 29,832 girls and 290,490 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.