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Francis

♀ Girl

Pronounced FRAN-sihs /ˈfɹæn.sɪs/Medium

Meaning: FrenchmanMedium

In 30 seconds: Francis means 'Frenchman' and here is used as a girl's name, sharing its root with the feminine spelling Frances.
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Origin MediumEnglish, French
MeaningFrenchman
U.S. rank (2024)#2083 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births92 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1919
Total births (all-time)≈ 29,710

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191918802024

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

History & Origin

The name began as a word for a Frenchman, from the same source that gives us 'France' and 'French'. As a girl's name it overlaps with the spelling Frances and connects to forms across Europe such as the French François. Pope Francis, who led the Catholic Church from 2013, is among the best-known bearers of the name in any form.

Used for a girl, Francis keeps a crisp, traditional sound and sits close to its many international cousins, from Francisque to Frantziska.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Francis is 'Frenchman', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Francis — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

FrancesFrancisqueFrançoisFrantziskaFrantzisko

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Pope Francis (1936–2025)
    Head of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope.
  • ★Francis "King" Clancy (1903–1986)
    Canadian Hall of Fame ice hockey defenceman for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.

If you like Francis…

Frances— The standard feminine spelling of the same name.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Francis mean?

Francis is usually explained as meaning 'Frenchman' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Francis?

It's commonly said FRAN-sihs /ˈfɹæn.sɪs/.

Is Francis a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Francis is used as a girl name.

How popular is Francis?

In 2024, Francis ranked #2083 in the U.S. for girls, with 92 births recorded.