Francis
Girl name · #1684 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Francis? In official American birth records, Francis has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Francis ranks #1684 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 122 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2736, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,754 girls born in 2025 was named Francis.
The 145-year story
Francis first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 55 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1919, when 673 girls were named Francis — good for #247 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Francis per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Francis against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Francis in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Francis is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Francis will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Francis is most common
State-level data for Francis is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Francis
Statistically, parents drawn to Francis tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Elvira, Geneva, Gladys, Fannie, and Eunice.
ElviraGenevaGladysFannieEuniceClariceDorcasJosefina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Francis | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 | #1684 |
| 2024 | 92 | #2080 |
| 2023 | 98 | #2002 |
| 2022 | 69 | #2554 |
| 2021 | 88 | #2131 |
| 2020 | 78 | #2277 |
| 2019 | 90 | #2090 |
| 2018 | 75 | #2404 |
| 2017 | 78 | #2338 |
| 2016 | 81 | #2321 |
| 2015 | 64 | #2736 |
| 2014 | 64 | #2714 |
| 2013 | 58 | #2903 |
| 2012 | 44 | #3583 |
| 2011 | 52 | #3173 |
| 2010 | 45 | #3516 |
| 2009 | 54 | #3126 |
| 2008 | 72 | #2584 |
| 2007 | 76 | #2457 |
| 2006 | 61 | #2850 |
| 2005 | 64 | #2636 |
| 2004 | 71 | #2396 |
| 2003 | 83 | #2106 |
| 2002 | 98 | #1821 |
| 2001 | 94 | #1861 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Francis?
In official American birth records, the name Francis first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 55 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Francis a popular girl name?
Francis ranked #1684 among girls in 2025 with 122 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2736.
When was the name Francis most popular?
Francis peaked in 1919, when 673 American girls received the name (ranked #247 that year). Since 1919 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Francis?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,754 newborn American girls was named Francis. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.