Frisco
A diminutive of the male name Francisco, which derives from Germanic elements meaning "free man".
Name Census estimates that about 168 living Americans carry the first name Frisco. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Frisco today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Frisco births was 1986 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Frisco. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
168
~ 1 in 2,040,204 Americans
Peak year
1986
25 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2007 SSA rank
#11,393
Tracked since 1984
Popularity
Frisco: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Frisco from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 95 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Frisco by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Frisco during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Friscos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Frisco
The given name Frisco is believed to have originated from the Italian language, specifically in the region of Tuscany. It is thought to be a shortened form or diminutive of the name Francesco, which itself is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman" or "free man."
The earliest recorded use of the name Frisco can be traced back to the 14th century, when it appeared in various historical documents and records from the city of Florence. It is possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or informal version of Francesco, as was common practice in that era.
In the 15th century, the name Frisco gained wider recognition and usage throughout Italy, particularly among the merchant and artisan classes. It is believed that the name was associated with a sense of freedom and independence, which may have contributed to its popularity.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name Frisco was Frisco da Volterra, an Italian sculptor and architect who lived between 1390 and 1457. He was renowned for his work on the Duomo di Siena and other prominent buildings in the region.
Another historical figure with the name Frisco was Frisco Morone, an Italian condottiero (mercenary captain) who lived from 1472 to 1528. He fought in various military campaigns across Italy and gained a reputation for his tactical skills and leadership.
In the 16th century, the name Frisco was carried by Frisco Salviati, an Italian cardinal and diplomat who lived from 1510 to 1563. He played a significant role in the Council of Trent and was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation.
During the Renaissance period, the name Frisco was also associated with artists and intellectuals. One notable example is Frisco Zuccari, an Italian painter and architect who lived from 1539 to 1609. He was known for his work in churches and palaces across Rome and was a member of the prestigious Accademia di San Luca.
In the 18th century, Frisco Geminiani, an Italian composer and violinist who lived from 1687 to 1762, achieved fame for his instrumental compositions and his contributions to the development of the violin concerto.
While the name Frisco has its roots in Italy, it has also been used in other parts of the world, particularly in areas with strong Italian cultural influences. However, its usage has generally remained limited, and it is considered a relatively rare given name in modern times.
People
Frisco + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Frisco as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Frisco: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Frisco?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 168 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Frisco going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,040,204 US residents.
Is Frisco a common name?
We classify Frisco as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 174 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Frisco most popular?
The single biggest year for Frisco was 1986, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Frisco is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Frisco a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Frisco in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.