How to say it
FRANK
fræŋk
Masculine
Frank
Free; a Frank
What it means
From the Germanic Franks, a people whose name came to mean 'free.'
Frank comes from the Franks, the Germanic people who gave their name to France, and whose name itself came to mean 'free.' Long a short for Francis and Franklin, it stands as a sturdy classic on its own, carried by Frank Sinatra. Plainspoken and warm. Said FRANK.
How to spell Frank
The standard spelling is Frank. Common variants include Franck, Franco, Frankie, but Frank is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #6 in 1880, currently #514 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
Frankie.
- Pop culture
Frank Sinatra.
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.
- Frank Sinatra American singer and actor
- Frank Ocean American singer-songwriter
Spelling variants
- Franck
- Franco
- Frankie
Names with the same feeling
See Frank from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Frank mean?
- From the Germanic Franks, a people whose name came to mean 'free.'
- What does Frank mean in English?
- In English, Frank means "Free; a Frank." Frank comes from the Franks, the Germanic people who gave their name to France, and whose name itself came to mean 'free.' Long a short for Francis and Franklin, it stands as a sturdy classic on its own, carried by Frank Sinatra. Plainspoken and warm. Said FRANK.
- Is Frank short for Francis?
- Yes. Frank is a short form of Francis, and it carries the same meaning, "Free; a Frank." These days many parents use Frank as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Frank?
- Frank is pronounced fræŋk. Say it as FRANK, with the stress on the "frank" syllable.
- How do you spell Frank?
- The standard spelling is Frank. Common spelling variants include Franck, Franco, Frankie.
- Is Frank a boy or girl name?
- Frank is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Frank?
- Frank ranked #514 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.