NameChart

Francis

Boy name

Francis has been given to 320,322 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 1918 and currently ranks #420 for boys (2025).

Meaning & origin /ˈfɹɑːnsɪs/

Borrowed from Medieval Latin Franciscus (“French(man)”) (from Francia (“France”)). Doublet of Francisco and Franz.

Origin: Latin

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

01.587k3.174k4.76k6.347k 18801900192019401960198020002020 Girls Boys
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

320,322

Peak year

1918 (7,000 babies)

Rank in 2025

#420 for boys

First recorded

1880

10-year trend

▲ +30%

Gender split

9% girls / 91% boys

Famous people named Francis

Francis Bacon

English philosopher and statesman (1561–1626)

Frank Sinatra

American singer and actor (1915–1998)

F. Scott Fitzgerald

American writer (1896–1940)

Francis Drake

English sailor and privateer (c. 1540 – 1596)

Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Francis.

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