Francisco
Francisco was the 322nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,069 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 114th; the most babies were born in 1993 (2,967). Over the last ten years it has moved down 75 places. More babies were named Francisco in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning Frenchman, Frank · Latin, Spanish
Say it fran-SIS-koh /frænˈsɪskoʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #322 boys, down 26 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,069boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19932,967 babies
- Total since 1880
- 143,146babies recorded
What does the name Francisco mean?
Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Francis, from Latin Franciscus, "Frankish, Frenchman". DMNES notes the name spread through the fame of Saint Francis of Assisi (whose nickname this was). Yonge's 1884 gloss "free" reflects an older idea that frank meant free; the Franks' name is the source. It is a major name in Spanish-speaking families in the US.
Franciscus (Medieval Latin, “Frankish, French”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Francis, Paco, Pancho, Frank, Francesco.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Francisco', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Francis', DMNES, Durham University
- Charlotte M. Yonge, History of Christian Names, new ed. (1884), index s.v. 'Francisco' (19th-century work; used for dated usage facts only), Macmillan (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
Nicknames for Francisco
The usual nicknames for Francisco are Paco, Pancho, Frank, Frankie and Cisco. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Francisco in the last five years, 59 were named Frank, against 55 twenty years earlier. Frankie is also gaining on the full name.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paco · Spanish pet form | Traditional | — | — |
| Pancho | Traditional | — | — |
| Frank · also for Franklin, Francis | Traditional | #514 | 3,291 |
| Frankie · also for Francesca, Franklin, Frances | Traditional | #922 | 1,078 |
| Cisco | Modern | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Franciscos go by each one.
Francisco popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 954 since 1916.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #322 | 1,069 |
| 2020 | #296 | 1,148 |
| 2010 | #197 | 1,876 |
| 2000 | #139 | 2,837 |
| 1990 | #115 | 2,934 |
| 1980 | #154 | 1,769 |
| 1970 | #209 | 1,218 |
| 1960 | #284 | 778 |
| 1950 | #254 | 647 |
| 1940 | #326 | 303 |
| 1930 | #255 | 476 |
| 1920 | #299 | 359 |
| 1910 | #305 | 65 |
| 1900 | #346 | 40 |
| 1890 | #443 | 17 |
| 1880 | #395 | 19 |
How popular is Francisco, counting every spelling?
Francisco is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #325 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #322 for Francisco on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,078 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco | 1,069 | #322 | 5,605 |
| Fransisco | 9 | #8,473 | 50 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Francisco?
1,069 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Francisco (0.30 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Francisco born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Francisco.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Francisco?
About 121,800 people born in the US named Francisco are alive today, with a median age of 31; half are between 20 and 45. That makes Francisco mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Francisco by state
How common Francisco was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (3.1×), New Mexico (3.1×), California (2.4×), Texas (2.1×), Nevada (2.1×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Wisconsin.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Francisco: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Francisco, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Francisco · Sibling names for Francisco
Questions about the name Francisco
What does Francisco mean?
Francisco means “Frenchman, Frank” (Latin, Spanish origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Francisco?
Francisco was the 322nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,069 babies. Its best year was 1991, when it ranked 114th; the most babies were born in 1993 (2,967). Over the last ten years it has moved down 75 places. More babies were named Francisco in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Francisco a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Francisco in the US.
Where is Francisco most popular?
In 2021–2025, Francisco was most common in Arizona (2.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Mexico and California.