Francis
Boy name · #420 in 2025 · Uniqueness 46/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Francis scores 46 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 NY (78), PA (62), CA (58), IL (42), NJ (39). 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 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
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. It scores 46/100 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.