How to say it
fran · CIS · co
frænˈsɪs.koʊ
Masculine
Francisco
Frenchman, free
What it means
The Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, originally 'Frenchman,' later read as 'free.'
Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, a name that began as a word for 'Frenchman' and warmed into a sense of 'free.' St. Francis of Assisi made it beloved, San Francisco carries it on the map, and it has been a cornerstone name across Spain and Latin America for centuries. The traditional shorts are wonderfully far from the full name: Paco, Pancho, and Cisco.
How to spell Francisco
The standard spelling is Francisco. Common variants include Francesco, François, Francis, but Francisco is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #114 in 1991, currently #322 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
- Nickname
Paco, Pancho, and Cisco are the traditional Spanish shorts.
- Worth knowing
A cornerstone name across Spanish-speaking communities.
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
- Francisco Goya Spanish Romantic painter and printmaker
Spelling variants
- Francesco
- François
- Francis
Names with the same feeling
See Francisco from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Francisco mean?
- The Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, originally 'Frenchman,' later read as 'free.'
- What does Francisco mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Francisco means "Frenchman, free." Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, a name that began as a word for 'Frenchman' and warmed into a sense of 'free.' St. Francis of Assisi made it beloved, San Francisco carries it on the map, and it has been a cornerstone name across Spain and Latin America for centuries. The traditional shorts are wonderfully far from the full name: Paco, Pancho, and Cisco.
- How do you pronounce Francisco?
- Francisco is pronounced frænˈsɪs.koʊ. Say it as fran-CIS-co, with the stress on the "cis" syllable.
- How do you spell Francisco?
- The standard spelling is Francisco. Common spelling variants include Francesco, François, Francis.
- Is Francisco a boy or girl name?
- Francisco is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Francisco?
- Francisco ranked #322 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.