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Frances Name Origin: Latin
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Pronunciation: f-ran-ces, fr(a)-nces
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Frances Name Meaning
The name Frances is said to symbolize freedom, independence, and a strong sense of self. It is also associated with the idea of being a free spirit, someone who is not constrained by the expectations of society. This is fitting, given the name’s association with Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his renunciation of material wealth and his dedication to living a simple and pious life.
Origins of the Name Frances
The name Frances has its origins in the Latin language. It is the feminine form of the name Francis, which itself is derived from the Latin word “franciscus” meaning “Frenchman” or “free man”. This name was borne by Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order of monks.
History of the Name Frances
The name Frances has been in use for centuries, with some of the earliest recorded instances of it being used in medieval times. It was particularly popular during the Renaissance period, when the name was borne by several notable figures, including the famous artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci.
It remained popular throughout the centuries, but saw a resurgence in popularity in the 20th century. In the early 20th century, the name was popularized by the famous American socialite and fashion icon, Frances “Baby” Houseman, played by Jennifer Grey in the iconic 1987 film “Dirty Dancing”.
Popularity of the Name Frances
Despite its long history, the name Frances has not always been a top choice for parents. However, it has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In the United States, the name Frances has been in the top 1000 names for girls since 1880, but it reached its peak popularity in the 1910s, and it was in the top 100 names for girls in the 1910s.
As of 2021, the name Frances is not among the top 100 popular girl names in the US, but it’s still a beautiful and timeless name that many people still choose for their daughters.
Final Thoughts on the Name Frances
In conclusion, the name Frances is a classic, timeless name with a rich history and meaning. It’s a name that has stood the test of time, remaining popular for centuries. Whether you’re looking for a name that symbolizes freedom, independence, and a strong sense of self or simply love the classic sound of the name, Frances is a great choice for a girl’s name. It’s a name that will never go out of style and will always be a beautiful choice for a girl’s name.
Infographic of Frances name meaning, which is “Free and frank.” Derived from the Old French; regarded as a feminine form of Francis.
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Frances Name Popularity
How popular is the name Frances? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
11 |
4,443 |
1.2619% |
| 1911 |
10 |
4,963 |
1.3328% |
| 1912 |
9 |
6,675 |
1.3236% |
| 1913 |
9 |
7,686 |
1.3556% |
| 1914 |
9 |
9,677 |
1.3886% |
| 1915 |
9 |
12,787 |
1.4074% |
| 1916 |
9 |
13,746 |
1.423% |
| 1917 |
9 |
14,363 |
1.4357% |
| 1918 |
8 |
16,127 |
1.5027% |
| 1919 |
9 |
15,107 |
1.4427% |
| 1920 |
9 |
15,883 |
1.4285% |
| 1921 |
9 |
15,991 |
1.3965% |
| 1922 |
10 |
15,053 |
1.3512% |
| 1923 |
10 |
14,878 |
1.3283% |
| 1924 |
10 |
15,180 |
1.3072% |
| 1925 |
11 |
13,819 |
1.2226% |
| 1926 |
10 |
13,353 |
1.214% |
| 1927 |
12 |
12,983 |
1.1729% |
| 1928 |
13 |
12,135 |
1.1341% |
| 1929 |
16 |
11,092 |
1.0709% |
| 1930 |
16 |
10,643 |
1.0189% |
| 1931 |
18 |
9,710 |
0.9838% |
| 1932 |
19 |
9,557 |
0.9673% |
| 1933 |
18 |
8,880 |
0.9531% |
| 1934 |
19 |
9,201 |
0.9518% |
| 1935 |
19 |
8,767 |
0.9022% |
| 1936 |
19 |
8,781 |
0.9116% |
| 1937 |
19 |
9,049 |
0.9183% |
| 1938 |
23 |
8,921 |
0.8714% |
| 1939 |
26 |
8,578 |
0.8433% |
| 1940 |
28 |
8,618 |
0.8108% |
| 1941 |
31 |
8,464 |
0.752% |
| 1942 |
30 |
9,470 |
0.7499% |
| 1943 |
31 |
9,439 |
0.723% |
| 1944 |
33 |
8,478 |
0.6841% |
| 1945 |
34 |
7,935 |
0.6506% |
| 1946 |
39 |
8,450 |
0.5727% |
| 1947 |
40 |
8,941 |
0.5356% |
| 1948 |
42 |
8,174 |
0.512% |
| 1949 |
49 |
7,436 |
0.4623% |
| 1950 |
51 |
6,974 |
0.4331% |
| 1951 |
59 |
6,586 |
0.3884% |
| 1952 |
67 |
6,078 |
0.3482% |
| 1953 |
72 |
5,783 |
0.3268% |
| 1954 |
83 |
5,158 |
0.2822% |
| 1955 |
96 |
4,636 |
0.252% |
| 1956 |
107 |
4,319 |
0.2287% |
| 1957 |
113 |
4,091 |
0.2126% |
| 1958 |
118 |
3,838 |
0.2031% |
| 1959 |
124 |
3,692 |
0.1943% |
| 1960 |
127 |
3,579 |
0.1889% |
| 1961 |
135 |
3,410 |
0.1806% |
| 1962 |
145 |
2,976 |
0.1621% |
| 1963 |
149 |
2,726 |
0.1519% |
| 1964 |
152 |
2,589 |
0.1471% |
| 1965 |
163 |
2,245 |
0.1373% |
| 1966 |
162 |
2,106 |
0.1349% |
| 1967 |
171 |
1,844 |
0.1215% |
| 1968 |
184 |
1,723 |
0.1147% |
| 1969 |
194 |
1,625 |
0.1055% |
| 1970 |
200 |
1,599 |
0.1005% |
| 1971 |
207 |
1,424 |
0.0948% |
| 1972 |
219 |
1,237 |
0.0908% |
| 1973 |
219 |
1,125 |
0.0868% |
| 1974 |
240 |
1,030 |
0.0792% |
| 1975 |
235 |
1,003 |
0.0781% |
| 1976 |
248 |
922 |
0.0715% |
| 1977 |
267 |
908 |
0.0674% |
| 1978 |
255 |
895 |
0.0666% |
| 1979 |
269 |
885 |
0.0628% |
| 1980 |
267 |
915 |
0.0626% |
| 1981 |
271 |
881 |
0.0599% |
| 1982 |
272 |
871 |
0.0583% |
| 1983 |
271 |
835 |
0.0566% |
| 1984 |
281 |
830 |
0.0558% |
| 1985 |
297 |
794 |
0.0523% |
| 1986 |
314 |
730 |
0.0484% |
| 1987 |
303 |
769 |
0.0504% |
| 1988 |
307 |
776 |
0.0498% |
| 1989 |
329 |
732 |
0.0454% |
| 1990 |
345 |
736 |
0.0444% |
| 1991 |
366 |
670 |
0.0411% |
| 1992 |
384 |
634 |
0.0397% |
| 1993 |
395 |
599 |
0.0384% |
| 1994 |
417 |
565 |
0.0368% |
| 1995 |
443 |
541 |
0.0359% |
| 1996 |
458 |
503 |
0.0336% |
| 1997 |
477 |
486 |
0.0329% |
| 1998 |
469 |
510 |
0.0341% |
| 1999 |
522 |
450 |
0.03% |
| 2000 |
571 |
413 |
0.027% |
| 2001 |
588 |
385 |
0.0256% |
| 2002 |
619 |
365 |
0.0244% |
| 2003 |
591 |
418 |
0.0275% |
| 2004 |
645 |
376 |
0.0247% |
| 2005 |
747 |
311 |
0.0203% |
| 2006 |
757 |
315 |
0.0201% |
| 2007 |
811 |
301 |
0.0191% |
| 2008 |
772 |
323 |
0.0209% |
| 2009 |
779 |
311 |
0.0208% |
| 2010 |
767 |
307 |
0.0213% |
| 2011 |
755 |
308 |
0.0216% |
| 2012 |
753 |
308 |
0.0216% |
| 2013 |
666 |
373 |
0.0262% |
| 2014 |
578 |
456 |
0.0313% |
| 2015 |
500 |
570 |
0.0392% |
| 2016 |
431 |
685 |
0.0475% |
| 2017 |
419 |
690 |
0.0494% |
| 2018 |
422 |
689 |
0.0501% |
| 2019 |
415 |
691 |
0.051% |
| 2020 |
424 |
666 |
0.0523% |
| 2021 |
395 |
703 |
0.0575% |
| 2022 |
425 |
711 |
0.0539% |
| 2023 |
398 |
736 |
0.0569% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Frances
If you like Frances, you’ll love these other names like Frances.
What names are diminutives of Frances?
A diminutive is a name that’s like Frances sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Frances, but shorter.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
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Fannie
|
From France
|
Latin
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|
|
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Fanny
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Fran
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names are variants of Frances?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Frances.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Fan
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fancey
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fanchette
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Fancie
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fancy
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fanechka
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fania
|
From France; crown, garland
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fanney
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fannie
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Fanny
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Fanya
|
Young deer; from France; crown, garland
|
Latin
|
|
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What names sound like Frances?
If you like how Frances sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Frances.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Francena
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
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Franceska
|
From France
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names are similar to Frances?
Find a name that’s like Frances, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Paquita
|
|
Spanish
|
|
|
Lists With Frances
Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Frances.
Siblings of Frances
Mamas with kids named Frances also have kids with these names.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Oliver
|
Olive tree
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English
|
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