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The short answer
Francis is a masculine name used in English and French. Behind the Name describes it this way: "English form of the Late Latin name Franciscus meaning ‘Frenchman’, ultimately from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, who were named for a type of spear that they used (Proto-Germanic *frankô). This name was borne by the 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi, who was originally named Giovanni but was given the nickname Francesco by his father, an admirer of the French." It ranked #420 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, english form of the Late Latin name Franciscus meaning ‘Frenchman’, ultimately from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, who were named for a type of spear that they used (Proto-Germanic *frankô). This name was borne by the 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi, who was originally named Giovanni but was given the nickname Francesco by his father, an admirer of the French. The entry lists its usage as English, French.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Francis ranked #420 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #420 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Francis in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Francis mean?
Francis means "Frenchman", according to Behind the Name.
Is Francis a popular name?
Francis ranked #420 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Francis a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Francis appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine & feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Francis — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
