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Francisco

♂ Boy

Pronounced frahn-SIS-koh /fɹænˈsɪs.koʊ/High

Meaning: Spanish and Portuguese form of Franciscus, the Latinized name for a Frenchman or a member of the Frankish people, whose Germanic name may mean 'free'.High

In 30 seconds: Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, carrying the full weight of Saint Francis of Assisi's legacy and centuries of Iberian and Latin American tradition. Stately, warm, and timeless.
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Origin HighLatin, Spanish, Portuguese
MeaningSpanish and Portuguese form of Franciscus, the Latinized name for a Frenchman or a member of the Frankish people, whose Germanic name may mean 'free'.
U.S. rank (2025)#322 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,069 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1993
Total births (all-time)≈ 142,186

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199318802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Francisco derives from the Latin Franciscus, used in medieval Latin to mean 'Frenchman' (a man from the Frankish lands). Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, 1181–1226) was given the nickname Francesco by his father, who admired French culture, and this name became one of the most venerated in Catholic Christianity. The Spanish and Portuguese forms Francisco spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula and colonized Americas.

Francisco has been a perennially popular name throughout the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world, consistently ranking in the top 10 in Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and much of Latin America. In the United States, it ranks prominently among Hispanic communities and has appeared in the top 200 of all US boy names. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, chose the papal name Francis (Francisco) in 2013, reinforcing its contemporary relevance.

Did you know? There are no fewer than four major cities named San Francisco in the Americas — in California, El Salvador, Argentina, and Colombia — all named after Saint Francis of Assisi, giving this name a geographic footprint spanning two continents.
Overall data confidence 93%
Behind the Name: Francisco — Etymology, variants, and usage across Romance languagesReal Academia Espanola — Spanish language records and name frequency

Variations

FrancisFrancescoFranzFranco

Nicknames

FranFrankieCiscoPacoPancho

Famous Bearers

  • ★Francisco Goya (1746–1828)
    Spanish painter and printmaker, regarded as one of the most important artists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • ★Francisco Lindor (1993–present)
    Puerto Rican Major League Baseball shortstop, a multiple-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner.
  • ★Francisco Franco (1892–1975)
    Spanish general who ruled Spain as dictator from 1939 to 1975.

If you like Francisco…

Fernando— four-syllable Spanish classic with Germanic roots and similar Latin American cultural stature
Antonio— four-syllable Spanish saint name with equal historical depth and nickname richness
Miguel— Spanish form of Michael, sharing Francisco's Iberian Catholic heritage and popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Francisco mean?

Francisco means 'Frenchman' or 'free man', from Latin Franciscus, the name of the Frankish people.

How do you pronounce Francisco?

Francisco is pronounced frahn-SIS-koh (/fɹænˈsɪs.koʊ/), four syllables with stress on the second.

Is Francisco a boy or girl name?

Francisco is a masculine name. Francisca is the feminine equivalent.

How popular is Francisco?

Francisco ranks in the US top 200 boys' names and is consistently a top-10 name across Spain and Latin America.