Fun Facts About the Name Frank
- A favorite across generations: Frank stayed in the U.S. top 100 every year from 1880 through 2025 - 146 consecutive years.
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 915,982 boys named Frank from 1880 through 2025.
- More than 920 thousand babies named Frank: U.S. records list 920,593 babies given the name Frank from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,611 girls received the name Frank - about 1 girl for every 199 boys.
What Does the Name Frank Mean?
Frank comes from the name of the Franks, a Germanic people recorded in Latin as Franci and in Old French as Franc. The tribal name is often traced to a Germanic word for a spear or javelin, in Proto-Germanic *frankô, though that derivation is not certain and is disputed. By the Middle Ages the same word had also taken on the sense "free, not servile" in French and English, because the Franks were the ruling people in the lands named for them. Old French franc carried both senses, "Frankish" and "free," along with "open, generous, outspoken." So the name is usually explained in two layers: literally as "a Frank" or "Frenchman," and by later extension as "free man." The adjective sense survives independently in English frank and frankly.
Frank Name History & Origins
The Franks appear in Latin writing from the third and fourth centuries as Franci, a confederation of Germanic peoples along the lower Rhine. Their kingdom gave its name to France, and their ethnic name became an ordinary Old French word, franc, meaning "Frankish" and later "free." That word supplied the personal name, which came into England with Norman French after the Conquest and appears in medieval records both as a given name and in surnames such as Franks.
In English use, Frank was also taken as a short form of the unrelated name Francis, from Latin Franciscus, and occasionally of Franklin, so it has stood both as a name in its own right and as a familiar form of those names. In German and Dutch, Frank is likewise used as a full name and as a short form of compound names beginning with the element Frank-. The spelling Franck is a variant found in several European languages.
How Popular is the Name Frank?
Frank has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1880 to 1988.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #18,553 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #9,281 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #9,044 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #5,514 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #7,257 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #5,280 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1992 | #10,855 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #7,106 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #6,592 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #4,157 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1988 | #4,911 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1987 | #3,278 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1986 | #2,927 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #3,184 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1984 | #3,103 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1983 | #3,178 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1982 | #3,041 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1981 | #3,012 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1980 | #3,152 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #2,743 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1978 | #2,761 | 30 | 0.0020% |
| 1977 | #2,627 | 32 | 0.0021% |
| 1976 | #2,678 | 29 | 0.0020% |
| 1975 | #2,287 | 36 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #1,940 | 44 | 0.0030% |
| 1973 | #1,951 | 42 | 0.0029% |
| 1972 | #1,931 | 43 | 0.0028% |
| 1971 | #2,219 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1970 | #1,809 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 1969 | #1,847 | 45 | 0.0027% |
| 1968 | #1,687 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 1967 | #1,764 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1966 | #2,211 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1965 | #2,166 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1964 | #2,163 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #1,740 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1962 | #1,765 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1961 | #1,968 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1960 | #1,861 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1959 | #1,559 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 1958 | #1,454 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 1957 | #1,690 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 1956 | #1,603 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1955 | #2,238 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,653 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1953 | #1,982 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1952 | #1,953 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1951 | #1,442 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1950 | #1,737 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1949 | #1,412 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1948 | #1,684 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1947 | #1,322 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1946 | #1,212 | 51 | 0.0032% |
| 1945 | #1,491 | 30 | 0.0023% |
| 1944 | #1,261 | 40 | 0.0030% |
| 1943 | #1,200 | 46 | 0.0033% |
| 1942 | #1,214 | 43 | 0.0032% |
| 1941 | #1,343 | 33 | 0.0027% |
| 1940 | #1,227 | 36 | 0.0031% |
| 1939 | #965 | 54 | 0.0049% |
| 1938 | #1,190 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1937 | #968 | 52 | 0.0049% |
| 1936 | #963 | 51 | 0.0049% |
| 1935 | #942 | 55 | 0.0052% |
| 1934 | #942 | 54 | 0.0052% |
| 1933 | #773 | 73 | 0.0072% |
| 1932 | #835 | 68 | 0.0064% |
| 1931 | #738 | 84 | 0.0079% |
| 1930 | #746 | 88 | 0.0078% |
| 1929 | #600 | 130 | 0.0116% |
| 1928 | #681 | 106 | 0.0092% |
| 1927 | #702 | 108 | 0.0091% |
| 1926 | #744 | 93 | 0.0078% |
| 1925 | #746 | 99 | 0.0081% |
| 1924 | #768 | 94 | 0.0075% |
| 1923 | #788 | 86 | 0.0071% |
| 1922 | #837 | 77 | 0.0064% |
| 1921 | #777 | 89 | 0.0072% |
| 1920 | #907 | 65 | 0.0054% |
| 1919 | #768 | 84 | 0.0074% |
| 1918 | #856 | 71 | 0.0061% |
| 1917 | #696 | 98 | 0.0091% |
| 1916 | #738 | 84 | 0.0080% |
| 1915 | #828 | 62 | 0.0063% |
| 1914 | #868 | 46 | 0.0060% |
| 1913 | #888 | 36 | 0.0058% |
| 1912 | #948 | 29 | 0.0052% |
| 1911 | #805 | 29 | 0.0069% |
| 1910 | #954 | 21 | 0.0053% |
| 1909 | #975 | 18 | 0.0052% |
| 1908 | #840 | 22 | 0.0066% |
| 1907 | #853 | 20 | 0.0063% |
| 1906 | #976 | 15 | 0.0051% |
| 1905 | #787 | 22 | 0.0075% |
| 1904 | #761 | 22 | 0.0080% |
| 1903 | #819 | 18 | 0.0069% |
| 1902 | #854 | 17 | 0.0064% |
| 1901 | #708 | 21 | 0.0088% |
| 1900 | #871 | 19 | 0.0063% |
| 1899 | #688 | 21 | 0.0090% |
| 1898 | #776 | 19 | 0.0073% |
| 1897 | #772 | 17 | 0.0073% |
| 1896 | #798 | 17 | 0.0071% |
| 1895 | #581 | 27 | 0.0116% |
| 1894 | #690 | 19 | 0.0085% |
| 1893 | #647 | 20 | 0.0094% |
| 1892 | #557 | 25 | 0.0118% |
| 1891 | #563 | 22 | 0.0119% |
| 1890 | #436 | 34 | 0.0179% |
| 1889 | #626 | 17 | 0.0095% |
| 1888 | #556 | 21 | 0.0118% |
| 1887 | #515 | 19 | 0.0130% |
| 1886 | #467 | 22 | 0.0152% |
| 1885 | #509 | 18 | 0.0135% |
| 1884 | #440 | 21 | 0.0163% |
| 1883 | #469 | 17 | 0.0151% |
| 1882 | #579 | 11 | 0.0102% |
| 1881 | #596 | 9 | 0.0098% |
| 1880 | #479 | 13 | 0.0143% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #514 | 584 | 0.0342% |
| 2024 | #468 | 656 | 0.0382% |
| 2023 | #469 | 648 | 0.0379% |
| 2022 | #440 | 708 | 0.0406% |
| 2021 | #444 | 691 | 0.0395% |
| 2020 | #427 | 694 | 0.0402% |
| 2019 | #403 | 773 | 0.0431% |
| 2018 | #392 | 807 | 0.0445% |
| 2017 | #373 | 890 | 0.0481% |
| 2016 | #353 | 957 | 0.0504% |
| 2015 | #355 | 944 | 0.0493% |
| 2014 | #336 | 991 | 0.0516% |
| 2013 | #327 | 1,007 | 0.0532% |
| 2012 | #320 | 985 | 0.0519% |
| 2011 | #308 | 1,048 | 0.0552% |
| 2010 | #302 | 1,077 | 0.0561% |
| 2009 | #291 | 1,138 | 0.0574% |
| 2008 | #278 | 1,228 | 0.0602% |
| 2007 | #262 | 1,333 | 0.0642% |
| 2006 | #246 | 1,401 | 0.0682% |
| 2005 | #231 | 1,480 | 0.0741% |
| 2004 | #230 | 1,466 | 0.0739% |
| 2003 | #230 | 1,500 | 0.0759% |
| 2002 | #216 | 1,587 | 0.0817% |
| 2001 | #214 | 1,634 | 0.0841% |
| 2000 | #209 | 1,708 | 0.0870% |
| 1999 | #187 | 1,855 | 0.0966% |
| 1998 | #177 | 1,887 | 0.0987% |
| 1997 | #168 | 2,023 | 0.1073% |
| 1996 | #162 | 2,149 | 0.1134% |
| 1995 | #157 | 2,247 | 0.1180% |
| 1994 | #141 | 2,479 | 0.1283% |
| 1993 | #134 | 2,504 | 0.1277% |
| 1992 | #125 | 2,755 | 0.1379% |
| 1991 | #116 | 2,881 | 0.1426% |
| 1990 | #109 | 3,187 | 0.1552% |
| 1989 | #109 | 3,054 | 0.1526% |
| 1988 | #99 | 3,271 | 0.1709% |
| 1987 | #97 | 3,124 | 0.1673% |
| 1986 | #91 | 3,178 | 0.1726% |
| 1985 | #90 | 3,303 | 0.1787% |
| 1984 | #86 | 3,331 | 0.1845% |
| 1983 | #86 | 3,362 | 0.1875% |
| 1982 | #81 | 3,605 | 0.1987% |
| 1981 | #82 | 3,640 | 0.2032% |
| 1980 | #81 | 3,735 | 0.2093% |
| 1979 | #78 | 3,930 | 0.2283% |
| 1978 | #77 | 3,776 | 0.2300% |
| 1977 | #71 | 3,895 | 0.2370% |
| 1976 | #68 | 3,899 | 0.2485% |
| 1975 | #66 | 4,211 | 0.2697% |
| 1974 | #65 | 4,364 | 0.2775% |
| 1973 | #61 | 4,784 | 0.3069% |
| 1972 | #56 | 5,167 | 0.3186% |
| 1971 | #54 | 6,089 | 0.3443% |
| 1970 | #48 | 6,805 | 0.3662% |
| 1969 | #47 | 6,918 | 0.3868% |
| 1968 | #49 | 6,892 | 0.3965% |
| 1967 | #45 | 7,430 | 0.4261% |
| 1966 | #44 | 7,787 | 0.4366% |
| 1965 | #43 | 8,317 | 0.4471% |
| 1964 | #41 | 9,338 | 0.4686% |
| 1963 | #41 | 9,525 | 0.4690% |
| 1962 | #42 | 9,760 | 0.4718% |
| 1961 | #41 | 10,432 | 0.4912% |
| 1960 | #40 | 10,751 | 0.5043% |
| 1959 | #42 | 10,941 | 0.5126% |
| 1958 | #38 | 11,326 | 0.5337% |
| 1957 | #38 | 11,268 | 0.5223% |
| 1956 | #38 | 11,150 | 0.5271% |
| 1955 | #34 | 11,109 | 0.5393% |
| 1954 | #36 | 10,995 | 0.5393% |
| 1953 | #33 | 11,180 | 0.5668% |
| 1952 | #32 | 11,268 | 0.5797% |
| 1951 | #31 | 11,477 | 0.6096% |
| 1950 | #29 | 11,607 | 0.6483% |
| 1949 | #27 | 11,960 | 0.6742% |
| 1948 | #25 | 12,698 | 0.7237% |
| 1947 | #23 | 13,995 | 0.7649% |
| 1946 | #22 | 12,667 | 0.7800% |
| 1945 | #21 | 10,874 | 0.8080% |
| 1944 | #21 | 11,342 | 0.8322% |
| 1943 | #21 | 12,245 | 0.8579% |
| 1942 | #21 | 12,248 | 0.8868% |
| 1941 | #21 | 10,795 | 0.8789% |
| 1940 | #20 | 10,596 | 0.9141% |
| 1939 | #20 | 9,990 | 0.9026% |
| 1938 | #18 | 10,261 | 0.9251% |
| 1937 | #18 | 10,126 | 0.9493% |
| 1936 | #16 | 10,186 | 0.9821% |
| 1935 | #16 | 10,421 | 1.0007% |
| 1934 | #16 | 10,636 | 1.0300% |
| 1933 | #16 | 10,964 | 1.1058% |
| 1932 | #15 | 11,497 | 1.1011% |
| 1931 | #16 | 11,472 | 1.1034% |
| 1930 | #13 | 12,535 | 1.1423% |
| 1929 | #12 | 12,966 | 1.2055% |
| 1928 | #12 | 13,570 | 1.2251% |
| 1927 | #12 | 14,377 | 1.2758% |
| 1926 | #12 | 14,493 | 1.3051% |
| 1925 | #12 | 15,329 | 1.3737% |
| 1924 | #12 | 16,044 | 1.4164% |
| 1923 | #11 | 15,903 | 1.4509% |
| 1922 | #10 | 16,013 | 1.4716% |
| 1921 | #9 | 16,705 | 1.5166% |
| 1920 | #9 | 16,430 | 1.5437% |
| 1919 | #9 | 15,701 | 1.6019% |
| 1918 | #9 | 17,018 | 1.6792% |
| 1917 | #9 | 15,768 | 1.7038% |
| 1916 | #9 | 15,291 | 1.7179% |
| 1915 | #9 | 15,006 | 1.7684% |
| 1914 | #9 | 12,002 | 1.8330% |
| 1913 | #9 | 9,237 | 1.8021% |
| 1912 | #9 | 7,912 | 1.8402% |
| 1911 | #8 | 4,314 | 1.9091% |
| 1910 | #8 | 3,768 | 1.9402% |
| 1909 | #8 | 3,244 | 1.9781% |
| 1908 | #8 | 3,146 | 2.0384% |
| 1907 | #8 | 2,943 | 2.0044% |
| 1906 | #8 | 2,798 | 2.1013% |
| 1905 | #8 | 2,837 | 2.1443% |
| 1904 | #8 | 2,799 | 2.1846% |
| 1903 | #8 | 2,644 | 2.2176% |
| 1902 | #8 | 2,756 | 2.2469% |
| 1901 | #8 | 2,402 | 2.2561% |
| 1900 | #8 | 3,477 | 2.3107% |
| 1899 | #8 | 2,550 | 2.4009% |
| 1898 | #8 | 2,925 | 2.3842% |
| 1897 | #7 | 2,726 | 2.4176% |
| 1896 | #7 | 2,845 | 2.3794% |
| 1895 | #6 | 3,012 | 2.5657% |
| 1894 | #7 | 2,863 | 2.4730% |
| 1893 | #7 | 2,917 | 2.5971% |
| 1892 | #6 | 3,150 | 2.5812% |
| 1891 | #6 | 2,652 | 2.6208% |
| 1890 | #6 | 3,078 | 2.7724% |
| 1889 | #6 | 2,975 | 2.6904% |
| 1888 | #6 | 3,459 | 2.8622% |
| 1887 | #6 | 2,883 | 2.8429% |
| 1886 | #6 | 3,127 | 2.8226% |
| 1885 | #6 | 3,067 | 2.8451% |
| 1884 | #6 | 3,218 | 2.8119% |
| 1883 | #6 | 2,986 | 2.8540% |
| 1882 | #6 | 3,176 | 2.7937% |
| 1881 | #6 | 2,834 | 2.8133% |
| 1880 | #6 | 3,242 | 2.9342% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
