Francis
14% girls · 86% boys
About Francis
Since this was the name chosen by the late Roman Catholic pope in 2013, Francis has come into the spotlight.
Francis for boys#420 US
The name, which was in the Top 10 at the turn of the last century, has been pretty much confined to Irish and Italian Catholics -- think F. (Francis) Scott Fitzgerald, Francis Albert Sinatra, Francis Ford Coppola -- for decades, and still has a somewhat starchy feel. But with its similarity to the increasingly popular female Frances, and its recent newsworthiness, we can see it making a possible comeback beyond those worlds. And in fact, the name has risen a bit in the charts since its all-time low of 680 in 2009.
Animal-loving parents might be inspired by the connection to Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni), who was said to be able to communicate with animals and was made the patron saint of ecology. Another Francis, Saint Francis de Sales, is the patron saint of writers and editors.
Francis for girls#1685 US
While Francis in this spelling is more commonly used for boys in English-speaking countries, it has a long tradition as a feminine name as well, especially in Catholic families. About ten percent of the baby girls given this name use the Francis spelling. With its classic religious associations, particularly to St. Francis of Assisi, the name carries connotations of humility, generosity, and connection to nature.
Pronounced FRAN-sis.
As of October 2026, Francis ranked #420 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #29 in 1915, Nameberry popularity #201.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #480 | 593 | #2,722 | 64 |
| 2015 | #481 | 622 | #2,752 | 64 |
| 2016 | #482 | 638 | #2,328 | 81 |
| 2017 | #458 | 661 | #2,343 | 78 |
| 2018 | #480 | 610 | #2,409 | 75 |
| 2019 | #484 | 605 | #2,094 | 90 |
| 2020 | #482 | 616 | #2,290 | 78 |
| 2021 | #467 | 637 | #2,136 | 88 |
| 2022 | #461 | 664 | #2,587 | 68 |
| 2023 | #456 | 675 | #2,023 | 97 |
| 2024 | #450 | 693 | #2,083 | 92 |
| 2025 | #420 | 769 | #1,685 | 122 |
World rankings
Francis for girls
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Francis.
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Francis on lists
Famous Franciss
- Francis I and IIBoy
Kings of France
- Francis I (Francis Stephen) and Francis IIBoy
Holy Roman Emperors
- Francis I (Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe) and Francis II (Francesco d'Assisi Maria Leopoldo)Boy
Kings of the Two Sicilies
- Francis XavierBoy
Spanish cofounder of the Society of Jesus
- Francis Rous (1579Boy
1658), Puritan, hymnist
- Francis de SalesBoy
Bishop of Geneva
- Francis NashBoy
American Revolutionary general
- Francis Scott KeyBoy
American poet; writer of the U.S. National Anthem
- Francis Minden Knollis (1815Boy
1863), hymnist
- Francis SheehyBoy
Skeffington, Irish writer, activist and pacifist
- Francis TaylorBoy
American art dealer; father of Elizabeth Taylor
- Francis Albert "Frank" SinatraBoy
American pop singer and actor
- Francis CrozierBoy
Anglo,Irish officer of the Royal Navy, polar explorer, and researcher
- Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio)Boy
current Pope
- Francis Scott Key FitzgeraldBoy
American novelist
- Francis BaconBoy
1st Viscount St Alban, English philosopher and statesman
- Francis Jean Marcel PoulencBoy
French composer
- Francis Harry Compton CrickBoy
English scientist who discovered DNA structure
- Francis Ford CoppolaBoy
American film director
- Francis FukuyamaBoy
American political scientist
- Francis "Hill" HarperBoy
American actor
- (Francis) Jameson Parker Jr.Boy
American actor
- Francis BouillonBoy
American hockey player
- Francis GaltonBoy
English polymath
- Christopher Francis "Frank" OceanBoy
American musician
- Francis William AstonBoy
English chemist; winner of the Nobel Prize
- Francis Peyton RousBoy
American virologist; winner of the Nobel Prize
- Francis "Coyote" ShiversBoy
Canadian musician/actor
- Francis Jonathan (b. 2009)Boy
son of actress Ashley Jensen
Francis in pop culture
- Francis AbernathyBoy
character in Donna Tartt's "The Secret History"
- Francis BonnefoyBoy
personification of France in "Axis Powers: Hetalia"
- Francis DolarhydeBoy
character in book/movie "Red Dragon"
- FrancisBoy
Malcolm's oldest brother on TV's "Malcolm in the Middle"
- Francis GageBoy
character on TV's "Walker, Texas Ranger"
- FrancisBoy
Prince of France on TV's "Reign"
- Francis "Frank" UnderwoodBoy
character on TV's "House of Cards"
- Francis the Talking MuleBoy
character in several films
- Francis GriffinBoy
Peter's dad on TV's "Family Guy"
- Francis Ray OttomanBoy
character in webcomic PvP
- FrancisBoy
character in video game "Left 4 Dead"
- FrancisBoy
character in movie "Spy Kids 3,D: Game Over"
- FrancisBoy
main cat character in "Felidae" by Akif Pirinçci
- FrancisBoy
ladybug character Pixar's "A Bug's Life"
- Francis FreemanBoy
character in movie "Deadpool"
- Francis "Frank" DelfinoBoy
character in "How to Get Away with Murder"
- Francis "Frank" MosesBoy
character in "RED"
- Francis Farewell StarliteBoy
musician and producer of "Francis and the Lights"
- Francis de SaintBoy
Germain, immortal character in Michael Scott's "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel"