Home › Baby Names Directory › France

France

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce France

Pronounced FRANSS /ˈfrɑːns/Medium

Meaning: As a girl's name France doubles as the country name and as a short form of Frances/Francine, from Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman' or 'free one'. In French, France is a genuine given name, and it reached American records both ways.Low

In 30 seconds: France is both the country name and a short form of Frances — from a Latin root meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free one' (said 'FRANSS').

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowFrench, Latin

MeaningAs a girl's name France doubles as the country name and as a short form of Frances/Francine, from Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman' or 'free one'. In French, France is a genuine given name, and it reached American records both ways.

U.S. rank (2015)#17347 ↘ Falling

2015 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,159

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

France serves as a place-name and, for many American families, as a trim form of Frances, all rooted in Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman' or 'free'. The double reading — nation and Frances — makes its exact intent vary from family to family.

It saw quiet use, peaking faintly in the early twentieth century around 1918 and lingering in small numbers into recent decades. Only a few dozen girls a year ever carried it.

Did you know? In France itself, France is an established girl's name; the singer France Gall carried it to fame, showing the country name working comfortably as a personal one.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — France — country name / short form of Frances; France Gall

Variations

FrancesFrancie

Nicknames

FranFrancie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like France…

Francine— a fellow France-family girls' name

Frances— the fuller name France often shortens

Paris— a like place-name used for girls

Francesca— another name on the 'French/free' root

Explore names like France

By themevintage french place-name

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name France mean?

France is the country name and a short form of Frances, from Latin meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free one'.

How do you pronounce France?

It's said FRANSS /ˈfrɑːns/ — one syllable.

Is France a boy or girl name?

France is used here as a girl's name, doubling as a place-name and a short form of Frances.

How popular is France?

France has always been rare as a personal name in the U.S., most seen in the early twentieth century.