Fun Facts About the Name Franklin
- A favorite of earlier generations: Franklin appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 9 years. Its last run lasted 2 consecutive years, from 1940 through 1941.
- More than 142 thousand babies named Franklin: U.S. records list 142,497 babies given the name Franklin from 1880 through 2025. Even 778 girls received the name Franklin - about 1 girl for every 182 boys.
What Does the Name Franklin Mean?
Franklin is an English given name meaning "free man" - more precisely, a free landowner who was not of noble rank. It comes from the Middle English frankelin, a status term for such a landowner. The word was borrowed from Old French, where franc meant "free" and a diminutive suffix -elin was added. Franc is connected to the Franks, a Germanic people, and acquired the sense "free" from their privileged legal status in medieval France. The given name is a transferred use of the English surname, which arose from this status term. The English word frank shares the same Old French root but means "open" or "honest," not "free man."
Franklin Name History & Origins
The word franklin entered English from Old French as a social label in the Middle Ages. The surname Franklin developed from it and is the direct source of the given name. As a first name, Franklin is a transferred use of that surname, not a name formed from the common noun in modern times.
In the English-speaking world, the given name is used and is well known in the United States. It is often associated with Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), the American printer, scientist, and statesman. Franklin Pierce (1804 - 1869), the 14th president of the United States, was given the name in honor of Benjamin Franklin. The common noun franklin also appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, where a franklin is one of the pilgrims, but that is a literary use of the social term rather than an early record of the given name.
How Popular is the Name Franklin?
Franklin recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1933. Franklin ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1932 through 1938, then returned in 1940 and remained through 1941.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #8,080 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #13,999 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #9,928 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #14,058 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #11,430 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #9,326 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #11,772 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #13,178 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #17,412 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #17,670 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #16,976 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #14,162 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #12,295 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #13,999 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #8,715 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #10,053 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #7,916 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #7,566 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,316 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #7,802 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #6,981 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #7,058 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #6,037 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #10,697 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,675 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #5,301 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #6,812 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #9,529 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #9,199 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #5,297 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #5,621 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #6,558 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #6,157 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #3,854 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #4,730 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #4,037 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #4,028 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,944 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,868 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #6,099 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #6,061 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,995 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #4,757 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #4,289 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #3,373 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #3,402 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #5,411 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #4,397 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #5,959 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,624 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #4,518 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #4,073 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #4,874 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #5,516 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,537 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #2,933 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1945 | #2,796 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #4,800 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #3,115 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #3,060 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,579 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #2,624 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1939 | #2,645 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #2,151 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1937 | #1,949 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1936 | #1,757 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1935 | #1,951 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1934 | #1,947 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1933 | #1,524 | 24 | 0.0024% |
| 1932 | #3,133 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #3,153 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #2,800 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #2,672 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1927 | #2,608 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1926 | #4,027 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #4,166 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #5,373 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,597 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #3,235 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1921 | #3,510 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #4,136 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,087 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #5,098 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1917 | #3,860 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1914 | #3,845 | 5 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #359 | 909 | 0.0532% |
| 2024 | #385 | 840 | 0.0490% |
| 2023 | #410 | 780 | 0.0457% |
| 2022 | #408 | 787 | 0.0451% |
| 2021 | #395 | 801 | 0.0458% |
| 2020 | #415 | 716 | 0.0415% |
| 2019 | #422 | 739 | 0.0412% |
| 2018 | #436 | 693 | 0.0382% |
| 2017 | #437 | 710 | 0.0384% |
| 2016 | #423 | 745 | 0.0393% |
| 2015 | #445 | 690 | 0.0360% |
| 2014 | #449 | 663 | 0.0345% |
| 2013 | #497 | 550 | 0.0291% |
| 2012 | #529 | 495 | 0.0261% |
| 2011 | #500 | 520 | 0.0274% |
| 2010 | #505 | 510 | 0.0266% |
| 2009 | #529 | 511 | 0.0258% |
| 2008 | #469 | 589 | 0.0289% |
| 2007 | #469 | 580 | 0.0279% |
| 2006 | #438 | 622 | 0.0303% |
| 2005 | #451 | 567 | 0.0284% |
| 2004 | #489 | 507 | 0.0255% |
| 2003 | #466 | 539 | 0.0273% |
| 2002 | #470 | 507 | 0.0261% |
| 2001 | #453 | 533 | 0.0274% |
| 2000 | #448 | 530 | 0.0270% |
| 1999 | #411 | 573 | 0.0298% |
| 1998 | #389 | 636 | 0.0333% |
| 1997 | #398 | 590 | 0.0313% |
| 1996 | #351 | 694 | 0.0366% |
| 1995 | #363 | 662 | 0.0348% |
| 1994 | #350 | 702 | 0.0363% |
| 1993 | #345 | 704 | 0.0359% |
| 1992 | #310 | 849 | 0.0425% |
| 1991 | #298 | 860 | 0.0426% |
| 1990 | #296 | 852 | 0.0415% |
| 1989 | #277 | 898 | 0.0449% |
| 1988 | #280 | 831 | 0.0434% |
| 1987 | #270 | 808 | 0.0433% |
| 1986 | #272 | 786 | 0.0427% |
| 1985 | #264 | 812 | 0.0439% |
| 1984 | #263 | 796 | 0.0441% |
| 1983 | #278 | 742 | 0.0414% |
| 1982 | #258 | 857 | 0.0472% |
| 1981 | #268 | 814 | 0.0454% |
| 1980 | #253 | 879 | 0.0493% |
| 1979 | #248 | 858 | 0.0498% |
| 1978 | #248 | 837 | 0.0510% |
| 1977 | #240 | 860 | 0.0523% |
| 1976 | #247 | 804 | 0.0512% |
| 1975 | #238 | 864 | 0.0553% |
| 1974 | #229 | 913 | 0.0581% |
| 1973 | #227 | 944 | 0.0606% |
| 1972 | #231 | 928 | 0.0572% |
| 1971 | #208 | 1,126 | 0.0637% |
| 1970 | #208 | 1,220 | 0.0656% |
| 1969 | #204 | 1,224 | 0.0684% |
| 1968 | #198 | 1,182 | 0.0680% |
| 1967 | #194 | 1,200 | 0.0688% |
| 1966 | #188 | 1,304 | 0.0731% |
| 1965 | #185 | 1,368 | 0.0735% |
| 1964 | #188 | 1,500 | 0.0753% |
| 1963 | #195 | 1,521 | 0.0749% |
| 1962 | #199 | 1,530 | 0.0740% |
| 1961 | #195 | 1,526 | 0.0718% |
| 1960 | #195 | 1,535 | 0.0720% |
| 1959 | #190 | 1,555 | 0.0729% |
| 1958 | #182 | 1,587 | 0.0748% |
| 1957 | #180 | 1,688 | 0.0782% |
| 1956 | #167 | 1,793 | 0.0848% |
| 1955 | #163 | 1,764 | 0.0856% |
| 1954 | #157 | 1,822 | 0.0894% |
| 1953 | #158 | 1,761 | 0.0893% |
| 1952 | #159 | 1,722 | 0.0886% |
| 1951 | #152 | 1,695 | 0.0900% |
| 1950 | #153 | 1,625 | 0.0908% |
| 1949 | #155 | 1,621 | 0.0914% |
| 1948 | #159 | 1,551 | 0.0884% |
| 1947 | #152 | 1,772 | 0.0969% |
| 1946 | #141 | 1,721 | 0.1060% |
| 1945 | #119 | 1,895 | 0.1408% |
| 1944 | #121 | 1,817 | 0.1333% |
| 1943 | #119 | 1,973 | 0.1382% |
| 1942 | #103 | 2,365 | 0.1712% |
| 1941 | #98 | 2,205 | 0.1795% |
| 1940 | #87 | 2,391 | 0.2063% |
| 1939 | #106 | 1,856 | 0.1677% |
| 1938 | #100 | 2,021 | 0.1822% |
| 1937 | #77 | 2,514 | 0.2357% |
| 1936 | #64 | 2,939 | 0.2834% |
| 1935 | #71 | 2,611 | 0.2507% |
| 1934 | #46 | 4,155 | 0.4024% |
| 1933 | #33 | 5,363 | 0.5409% |
| 1932 | #66 | 2,754 | 0.2638% |
| 1931 | #148 | 1,089 | 0.1047% |
| 1930 | #149 | 1,078 | 0.0982% |
| 1929 | #148 | 1,061 | 0.0986% |
| 1928 | #146 | 1,103 | 0.0996% |
| 1927 | #144 | 1,183 | 0.1050% |
| 1926 | #142 | 1,202 | 0.1082% |
| 1925 | #134 | 1,294 | 0.1160% |
| 1924 | #134 | 1,284 | 0.1134% |
| 1923 | #132 | 1,264 | 0.1153% |
| 1922 | #126 | 1,317 | 0.1210% |
| 1921 | #126 | 1,350 | 0.1226% |
| 1920 | #119 | 1,451 | 0.1363% |
| 1919 | #129 | 1,206 | 0.1230% |
| 1918 | #129 | 1,275 | 0.1258% |
| 1917 | #124 | 1,194 | 0.1290% |
| 1916 | #130 | 1,073 | 0.1206% |
| 1915 | #132 | 1,001 | 0.1180% |
| 1914 | #134 | 770 | 0.1176% |
| 1913 | #132 | 593 | 0.1157% |
| 1912 | #129 | 497 | 0.1156% |
| 1911 | #152 | 220 | 0.0974% |
| 1910 | #170 | 176 | 0.0906% |
| 1909 | #150 | 168 | 0.1024% |
| 1908 | #171 | 133 | 0.0862% |
| 1907 | #177 | 122 | 0.0831% |
| 1906 | #156 | 125 | 0.0939% |
| 1905 | #187 | 98 | 0.0741% |
| 1904 | #169 | 108 | 0.0843% |
| 1903 | #155 | 116 | 0.0973% |
| 1902 | #176 | 97 | 0.0791% |
| 1901 | #163 | 92 | 0.0864% |
| 1900 | #151 | 137 | 0.0910% |
| 1899 | #138 | 116 | 0.1092% |
| 1898 | #152 | 112 | 0.0913% |
| 1897 | #208 | 68 | 0.0603% |
| 1896 | #167 | 96 | 0.0803% |
| 1895 | #150 | 103 | 0.0877% |
| 1894 | #180 | 84 | 0.0726% |
| 1893 | #150 | 99 | 0.0881% |
| 1892 | #147 | 109 | 0.0893% |
| 1891 | #125 | 109 | 0.1077% |
| 1890 | #157 | 90 | 0.0811% |
| 1889 | #148 | 100 | 0.0904% |
| 1888 | #123 | 129 | 0.1067% |
| 1887 | #143 | 89 | 0.0878% |
| 1886 | #117 | 127 | 0.1146% |
| 1885 | #118 | 117 | 0.1085% |
| 1884 | #147 | 93 | 0.0813% |
| 1883 | #131 | 94 | 0.0898% |
| 1882 | #125 | 112 | 0.0985% |
| 1881 | #107 | 117 | 0.1161% |
| 1880 | #112 | 120 | 0.1086% |
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.
