Boy name · Latin
Francis
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: FrenchmanFrancis is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "Frenchman". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Frenchman
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #420 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Francis
As a boy's name, Francis comes from Latin and means "Frenchman". It is used in English.
Francis is also a surname: the 406th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 78,198 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Francis on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Francis on 2 lists.
“Frenchman; Latin. Gentle saint's name”
From Boy middle names, classic boy middle names
“Frenchman; Latin. Shared with the saint of Assisi”
From Classic boy names, royal and noble boy names
How popular is Francis?
- US rank in 2025
- #420
- 769 babies, 450 per million boys
- Best rank
- #29 in 1915
- Most babies: 6,347 in 1918
- Babies since 1880
- At least 290,490
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 2,961 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 3,975 per million |
| 1900s | 5,172 per million |
| 1910s | 6,150 per million |
| 1920s | 5,363 per million |
| 1930s | 3,917 per million |
| 1940s | 2,655 per million |
| 1950s | 1,720 per million |
| 1960s | 1,004 per million |
| 1970s | 606 per million |
| 1980s | 510 per million |
| 1990s | 363 per million |
| 2000s | 227 per million |
| 2010s | 290 per million |
| 2020s | 392 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #482 | #458 | #480 | #484 | #482 | #467 | #462 | #456 | #450 | #420 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Francis
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Frankcommon English nickname
- Frankiecommon English nickname
Other forms of Francis
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Francis
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- FranckA Frank (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- CheccoA Frenchman (Latin, boy)
- FannieFrenchman, from Frances (Latin, girl)
- FrancescoA frenchman (Latin, boy)
- Francisco JavierFrenchman, new house (Latin and Basque, boy)
- Francisco JoséFrenchman, he will add (Latin and Hebrew, boy)
- FranciszekA Frenchman (Latin, boy)
- Jean-FrançoisGod is gracious, plus Frenchman (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
- Juan FranciscoGod is gracious, Frenchman (Hebrew and Latin, boy)
Middle names for Francis
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
- MaxThe greatest (Latin, boy)
- AdrianFrom Hadria (Latin, boy)
- FelixLucky, happy (Latin, boy)
- MartinDedicated to Mars (Latin, boy)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- MagnusThe great (Latin, boy)
- MarcoOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MarcusOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- PatrickNobleman, patrician (Latin, boy)
- PaulSmall, humble (Latin, boy)
- VictorThe conqueror (Latin, boy)
- VincentConquering one (Latin, boy)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- ClemensMerciful (Latin, boy)
- ConstantineConstant, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- DanteEnduring, steadfast (Latin, boy)
- EmilianoRival, striving to equal (Latin, boy)
Francis: common questions
What does the name Francis mean?
Francis comes from Latin and means "Frenchman".
Is Francis a boy or girl name?
Francis is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 122 girls and 769 boys in the US were named Francis, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Francis?
Common nicknames for Francis include Frank and Frankie.
How popular is the name Francis?
Francis ranked #420 in the US in 2025, with 769 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Francis?
Forms of Francis with the same meaning and origin include Francisco (Spanish), François (French), Frankie (English), Paco (Spanish) and Proinsias (Irish).
What middle names go with Francis?
Middle names that flow well with Francis include Abel, Basil, Dean, Grant and Heath. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.