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Franklin

♂ Boy

Pronounced FRANK-lin /ˈfɹæŋk.lɪn/High

Meaning: From Medieval Latin 'francus' (free man) and Old French 'frankeleyn' — a franklin was a free landowner in medieval England who was not a serf but also not of noble rank, meaning 'free man' or 'free landowner'.High

In 30 seconds: Franklin is a name that encodes the concept of freedom in its very etymology — a franklin was a free man who owned land. Dignified and American, it has been the name of two US presidents and one of the Founding Fathers.
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Origin HighOld French, Medieval Latin
MeaningFrom Medieval Latin 'francus' (free man) and Old French 'frankeleyn' — a franklin was a free landowner in medieval England who was not a serf but also not of noble rank, meaning 'free man' or 'free landowner'.
U.S. rank (2025)#359 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births909 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1933
Total births (all-time)≈ 141,719

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193318802025

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

History & Origin

Franklin originates from the Old French frankeleyn and Medieval Latin franciscus liber, meaning a free man. In medieval England, a franklin was a free landowner who ranked below the gentry but above the serfs — his freedom and land ownership defined his social standing. The name became a surname and then a given name.

Franklin gained enormous prestige in the United States through Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), polymath and Founding Father, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), whose presidency spanned the Great Depression and World War II. The name was in the US top 100 boys' names for most of the twentieth century. Today it ranks in the top 200 and is experiencing a mild revival as a dignified, presidential option.

Did you know? Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was the only Founding Father who signed all four major documents of the American Republic: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War, and the Constitution — making Franklin the name most comprehensively associated with America's founding moment.
Overall data confidence 93%
Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames — Old French frankeleyn and its Medieval Latin originSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity history for Franklin

Variations

FrankFranklyn

Nicknames

FrankFrankieLin

Famous Bearers

  • ★Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
    American Founding Father, inventor, diplomat, and polymath, the only person to sign all four founding documents.
  • ★Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
    32nd President of the United States, served four terms through the Great Depression and World War II.

If you like Franklin…

Lincoln— presidential American surname name with the same dignified, freedom-associated heritage
Theodore— presidential American given name with the same three-syllable rhythm and historical gravitas
Winston— distinguished Anglo-American surname name with the same statesman quality and vintage appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Franklin mean?

Franklin means 'free landowner' or 'free man', from medieval Latin and Old French, referring to a man who owned land and was not a serf.

How do you pronounce Franklin?

Franklin is pronounced FRANK-lin (/ˈfɹæŋk.lɪn/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Franklin a boy or girl name?

Franklin is a boy's name.

How popular is Franklin?

Franklin has been in the US top 100 for most of the twentieth century and remains in the top 200, with a renewed interest in classic presidential names.