How to say it
FRAN · cis
ˈfræn.sɪs
Masculine
Francis
Frenchman, free
What it means
From the Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman,' later read as 'free.'
Francis comes from the Latin Franciscus, 'the Frenchman,' a nickname that softened into a sense of 'free.' St. Francis of Assisi, who preached to the birds and embraced poverty, made it beloved, and Pope Francis took his name. The spelling is the tell: Francis is masculine, Frances feminine. It shares its root with Francisco and Francesca. Frank and Fran are the shorts.
How to spell Francis
The standard spelling is Francis. Common variants include Francisco, François, Franciszek, but Francis is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #29 in 1915, currently #420 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Francis (i) is masculine, Frances (e) feminine.
- Pop culture
St. Francis of Assisi; Pope Francis; Francis Ford Coppola.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- St. Francis of Assisi 13th-century friar, patron saint of animals and ecology
- Francis Ford Coppola American filmmaker (The Godfather)
Spelling variants
- Francisco
- François
- Franciszek
Names with the same feeling
See Francis from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Francis mean?
- From the Latin Franciscus, 'Frenchman,' later read as 'free.'
- What does Francis mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Francis means "Frenchman, free." Francis comes from the Latin Franciscus, 'the Frenchman,' a nickname that softened into a sense of 'free.' St. Francis of Assisi, who preached to the birds and embraced poverty, made it beloved, and Pope Francis took his name. The spelling is the tell: Francis is masculine, Frances feminine. It shares its root with Francisco and Francesca. Frank and Fran are the shorts.
- How do you pronounce Francis?
- Francis is pronounced ˈfræn.sɪs. Say it as FRAN-cis, with the stress on the "fran" syllable.
- How do you spell Francis?
- The standard spelling is Francis. Common spelling variants include Francisco, François, Franciszek.
- Is Francis a boy or girl name?
- Francis is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Francis?
- Francis ranked #420 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.