Francis

“Frenchman” — Medieval Latin origin

Boy's name · #420 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Francis holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#420 in 2025). About 290,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records. Francis's short forms are Frank, Frankie, and Fran. About 750 boys a year are given Frankie as their full name.

Around the world: about 1 in 650 boys in Sweden (2025) · about 1 in 690 boys in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 1,000 boys in N. Ireland (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 39 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Francises

Francis Bacon — English philosopher and statesman (1561–1626)
Francis of Assisi — Italian Catholic saint, friar, deacon and preacher and founder of the Franciscan Order (1181/2–1226)
Francis Drake — English sailor and privateer (c. 1540 – 1596)
Francis Ford Coppola — American filmmaker (born 1939)
Francis Crick — British molecular biologist, biophysicist, neuroscientist; co-discoverer of the structure of DNA

In stories & tradition

Francis (Professor X) — Uncanny X-Men · Giant-Size X-Men #1
Francis (Punisher) — Daredevil · The Punisher
Francis (Hawkeye) — Tales of Suspense

What Francises become

Among 6,476 notable people named Francis:

Military figures appear 2.62× more often than among typical names — e.g. Francis Beaufort, Irish hydrographer and naval officer (1774-1857).

Similar names: Frankie · Leonard · Franklin · Russell · Lewis · Melvin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service