Francis
Girl name · #1684 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Francis against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Francis in class?
Francis scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Francis is most common
Geography matters for names, and Francis is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Franciss were CA (17), TX (15), MI (7), NY (7), AZ (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.