The nameFrancis
Francis is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "Frenchman". The name of Saint Francis of Assisi and of Pope Francis, it is a timeless classic.
- Boy's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Francis comes from the Italian Francesco, "Frenchman", the nickname given to Saint Francis of Assisi, whose mother was French.
Origin
Latin, through Italian. Saint Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscans in the 13th century.
History
Sir Francis Drake and Francis Bacon made it famous in England. Pope Francis, elected in 2013, was the first pope to take the name. It reached the American top 30.
Did you know?
- Sir Francis Drake completed the second circumnavigation of the globe, between 1577 and 1580.
- Francis Bacon is credited with the saying "knowledge is power".
Famous people named Francis
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- Pope Francis
- Sir Francis Drake, explorer
- Francis Bacon, philosopher
Popularity of the name Francis
Francis in the United States
Francis was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 65,206 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Francis. Its rise began around 1900, and it peaked in 1918. Half of all babies named Francis in the United States were born before 1936, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 742 births a year.
Francis in the United Kingdom
Francis was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 2,431 births over the decade, 37% of all recorded babies named Francis. Half of all babies named Francis in the United Kingdom were born before 2013, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 275 births a year.
Francis in Ireland
Francis in France
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Francis
Names from the same generation as Francis, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Francis? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Francis with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Francis side by side with the name of your choice.
Francis in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Francis mean?
Francis comes from the Italian Francesco, "Frenchman", the nickname given to Saint Francis of Assisi, whose mother was French.
What is the origin of the name Francis?
Latin, through Italian. Saint Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscans in the 13th century.
Is Francis a girl's or a boy's name?
Francis is a boy's name. In the United States, 9% of the babies named Francis are girls.
How popular is the name Francis?
In 2024, Francis was the 450th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 693 births.
What are the variants of the name Francis?
Variants and related names of Francis include Franc, François, Frank, Frankie and Paco.
What are good sibling names for Francis?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Sylvia, Alma, Regina and Felicity for a sister, Marcel, Frederick, Blaise and Louis for a brother.
Who are famous people named Francis?
Saint Francis of Assisi; Pope Francis; Sir Francis Drake, explorer; Francis Bacon, philosopher.