Find out how popular the first name Frank has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Frank by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Frank is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Frank being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 646 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Frank.

The history of the first name Frank

The name Frank has its origins in the Germanic Franks tribe that settled in present-day France and parts of Germany during the 3rd century CE. It is derived from the Germanic word "franko," meaning "free" or "truthful." The Franks were known for their fierceness and bravery in battle, and the name came to symbolize these qualities.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Frank can be found in the 6th century CE, when it was borne by Frankish kings such as Clovis I, who is credited with uniting the Frankish tribes and converting to Christianity. The name gained popularity throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and Germany.

In the 12th century, the Catholic Church canonized St. Francis of Assisi, whose given name was Francesco. This further contributed to the widespread use of the name Frank and its variants across Europe. Several notable figures throughout history have borne this name, including:

1. Charlemagne (742-814 CE), the Frankish king who established the Carolingian Empire and was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800 CE.

2. Francis Bacon (1561-1626), the English philosopher, statesman, and scientific pioneer who advocated for the empirical method of scientific inquiry.

3. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a renowned polymath known for his contributions to science, politics, and literature.

4. Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), the iconic American singer and actor who was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for over six decades.

5. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), the influential American architect and designer who pioneered the Prairie School of architecture and designed numerous iconic buildings.

While the name Frank has been popular throughout Western history, it has also been adopted and adapted in various cultures around the world, reflecting the widespread influence of the Franks and their legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Frank was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Frank, please contact us.

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