Francis
Boy name · #420 in 2025 · Distinctive
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.
In 2025, 769 baby boys were named Francis, placing it at #420 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #481, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,341 boys born in 2025 was named Francis.
Babies named Francis per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Francis first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 344 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 6,347 boys were named Francis — good for #30 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.
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 "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Francis is most common in MA (1.3 per 1,000), PA (1.2 per 1,000), CT (1.1 per 1,000), WI (1 per 1,000), NJ (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Francis is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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 Lewis, Louis, Frank, Otis, and Raymond.
LewisLouisFrankOtisRaymondFranklinLeonardWalter
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Francis | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 769 | #420 |
| 2024 | 695 | #450 |
| 2023 | 677 | #456 |
| 2022 | 664 | #462 |
| 2021 | 637 | #466 |
| 2020 | 616 | #481 |
| 2019 | 605 | #484 |
| 2018 | 610 | #479 |
| 2017 | 662 | #458 |
| 2016 | 638 | #481 |
| 2015 | 622 | #481 |
| 2014 | 593 | #480 |
| 2013 | 539 | #505 |
| 2012 | 430 | #593 |
| 2011 | 387 | #617 |
| 2010 | 358 | #670 |
| 2009 | 359 | #676 |
| 2008 | 368 | #660 |
| 2007 | 402 | #616 |
| 2006 | 451 | #556 |
| 2005 | 463 | #526 |
| 2004 | 456 | #524 |
| 2003 | 465 | #518 |
| 2002 | 464 | #497 |
| 2001 | 546 | #444 |
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 344 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Francis a popular boy name?
Francis ranked #420 among boys in 2025 with 769 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #481.
When was the name Francis most popular?
Francis peaked in 1918, when 6,347 American boys received the name (ranked #30 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Francis?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,341 newborn American boys was named Francis. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.