Paco
Spanish masculine diminutive of Francisco, ultimately derived from Latin Franciscus meaning "Frenchman".
Name Census estimates that about 314 living Americans carry the first name Paco. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Paco today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paco births was 2007 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paco. 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
314
~ 1 in 1,091,574 Americans
Peak year
2007
18 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,618
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Paco: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Paco from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 86 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Paco 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 Paco during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Pacos live
Origin
Meaning and history of Paco
The name Paco is a Spanish diminutive form of the name Francisco. It has its origins in the Late Latin name Franciscus, which itself was derived from the Germanic name Franko, meaning "free" or "Frenchman." The name Francisco became popular in Spain after the 13th century due to the influence of St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order.
The earliest recorded use of the name Paco dates back to the 16th century in Spain. It was commonly used as a familiar or affectionate form of Francisco, particularly among family and close friends. Over time, Paco became a standalone given name in its own right, rather than just a diminutive.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Paco was Paco de Lucía, a celebrated Spanish guitarist and composer who pioneered the modern flamenco style. He was born Francisco Sánchez Gómez in 1947 and passed away in 2014, leaving a lasting impact on the world of flamenco music.
Another famous bearer of the name was Paco Rabanne, a Spanish fashion designer known for his futuristic and avant-garde designs. Born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo in 1934, he gained international recognition for his innovative use of unconventional materials, such as metal and plastic, in his fashion collections.
In the world of literature, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, a Mexican writer and journalist born in 1949, is renowned for his detective novels featuring the character Héctor Belascoarán Shayne. His works often explore social issues and provide a critical commentary on Mexican society.
The name Paco also has a strong association with the Spanish bullfighting tradition. One of the most famous matadors in history was Paco Camino, born Francisco Camino Sánchez in 1917. He was known for his exceptional skill and courage in the bullring, and his name became synonymous with the art of bullfighting.
Additionally, Paco de Lucía's nephew, Paco Cepero, born in 1978, has continued the family legacy as a celebrated flamenco guitarist and composer, carrying on the tradition of his esteemed uncle.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Paco, reflecting its deep roots in Spanish culture and its enduring popularity as a diminutive form of Francisco.
People
Paco + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paco as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Paco: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paco?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 314 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paco 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 1,091,574 US residents.
Is Paco a common name?
We classify Paco as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 324 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paco most popular?
The single biggest year for Paco was 2007, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paco is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paco a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paco 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.