Francis (given name)

Francis
	St. Francis receives the stigmata by Jan Claudius de Cock
Pronunciation	/ˈfrɑːnsɪs, ˈfræn-/
Gender	Male
Language(s)	French, Haitian Creole, Latin
Name day	October 4
Origin
Language(s)	Latin
Meaning	Freeman
Region of origin	Medieval Italy
Other names
Related names	Franciscus, Francisco, “Francesco, François, Franz, Franciszek, Francesc, Ferenc, Franco, Frans, Frank, Franklin, Frankie, Franky, Fritz

Francis is an English, French, German, Dutch and Scandinavian given name of Latin origin.

Francis is a name that has many derivatives in most European languages. A feminine version of the name in English is Frances, or (less commonly) Francine.^[4] (For most speakers, Francis and Frances are homophones or near homophones; a popular mnemonic for the spelling is "i for him and e for her".) The name Frank is a common diminutive for Francis, as is Frannie for Frances. Less common are the diminutives Fritz for Francis, and Franny and Fran for either Francis or Frances.

History

The name has relatively unclear origins but is thought to mean "free". Notably, the Germanic of the Franks gave their name to France and their characteristic national weapon was the francisca, a throwing axe. Francesco ("Free man", "Frank", "Frenchman", in medieval Italian)^[5] was the name given to Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) by his francophile father, whose wife, the mother of Francesco, was French,^[6] celebrating his trade with French merchants. Due to the renown of the saint, the name became widespread in Western Europe during the Middle Ages in its different versions (Francisco, François, etc.). However, it was not regularly used in Britain until the 16th century as Francis.^[7]

Related names in other languages

Related names are common in other Western European languages, in countries that are (or were before the Reformation) Catholic. Other non-European languages have also adopted variants of the name. These names include:

Arabic: فرانشيسكو (Farānshiskū), فرنسيس (Faransīs), فرانسيس (Farānsīs)
Aragonese: Francho
Armenian: Ֆրանցիսկոս (Franciskos)
Asturian: Xicu
Albanian: Françesku
Alemannic German: Franz, Fränzi
Basque: Frantzisko (male version), Frantziska or Pantxika (female version), Patxi or Pantxi (male diminutive of Frantzisko)
Bavarian: Franze, Franzi, Franzl
Belarusian: Francišak, Францішак (Frantsishak)
Bulgarian: Франциск (Frantsisk), Фружин (Fruzhin)
Breton: Franseza, Frañsez, Fañch, Fañchig, Soaig, Saig
Catalan: Francesc, Cesc, Cesco, Xesc, Xisco, Fran (male version); Francesca, Cisca, Xisca, Xesca, Fani, Francina (female version)
Chinese: 弗朗西斯 (Fúlǎngxīsī), 方濟各 (Fāngjìgè), 法蘭西斯 (Fǎlánxīsī)
Corsican: Francescu, Franciscu
Croatian: Franjo, Frano, Frane, Fran (male version); Franciska, Franka, Franca, Franjica (female version)
Czech: František, Františka (female version)
Danish: Frans
Dutch: Frans, Frank, Franciscus, Franciescus, Francieskus, Francis, Francies, Cies (Franciska, Francisca or Francien is used to signify the female version in the Netherlands)
Esperanto: Francisko
Estonian: Franciscus
Filipino: Francisco, Francis, Franco, Kiko (diminutive of Francisco)
Finnish: Frans, Fanni, Fransiscus, Ransu
French: François, Francis, Francisque (rare) (male version); Françoise, France, Francine (female version)
Galician: Francisco
German: Franziskus, Franz, Franziska (female version)
Greek: Fragiskos, Fragkiskos, Frangiskos, Frangkiskos, Frankiskos, (Φραγκίσκος), Frantzeskos (Φραντζέσκος), Frankiski (Φραγκίσκη), Frantzeska (Φραντζέσκα) (female version)
Gujarati: ફ્રાન્સિસ (Phrānsis)
Hawaiian: Palakiko
Hindi: फ्रांसिस (Phrānsis)
Hungarian: Ferenc, Feri, Franciska (female version)
Icelandic: Frans
Indonesian: Fransiskus, Fransiska (female version)
Irish: Proinsias, Proinnsias [Francie], (all variants are valid for both males & females, rare for a female to adopt this name in Irish)
Italian: Francesco, Franco, Fran, Ciccio, Cecco, Checco, Chicco (male version); Franca, Francesca, Cina, Cesca, Cecca (female version)
Japanese: フランシス (Furanshisu) (for translation of English name), フランシスコ (Furanshisuko) (for translation of Christian name)
Kannada: ಫ್ರಾನ್ಸಿಸ್ (Phrānsis)
Konkani: Frask, Forso
Korean: 프란시스 (Peuransiseu), 프란체스코 (Peurancheseuko)
Latin: Franciscus
Latvian: Francisks, Francis
Lithuanian: Pranciškus, Pranas
Lombard: Francesch
Luo (Ke/Tz): Fransisko, Pransis
Macedonian: Френсис (Frensis)
Malayalam: പൊറിഞ്ചു (Porinchu/Porinju), പ്രാഞ്ചി Pranchi, Prenju, Frenju (popular amongst the Syro Malabar Catholics of Kerala. Porinchu being more common in the North around the Thrissur ArchDiocese, while Prenju and Frenju are more common in the South in the Kuttanad region of the Changanacherry ArchDiocese)
Maltese: Franġisk, Frans
Manx: Frank
Neapolitan: Francesco (diminutives: Ciccio, Ciccillo)
Norman: Françouais
Norwegian: Frans, Franciskus
Occitan: Francés
Persian: فرانسیس (Frānsīs or Ferānsīs)
Piedmontese: Fransesch
Polish: Franciszek, (diminutives: Franek, Franio, Franuś) (male version), Franciszka, (diminutives: Franka, Frania) (female version)
Portuguese: Francisco, Francisquinho, Chico, Chiquinho, Quico, Fran, Paco (diminutives) Francisca (female version), Francisquinha, Chica, Chiquinha, Quica (diminutives)
Romanian: Francisc
Russian: Франческо (Franchesko) for Italians, Франциск (Frantsisk) for Poles, Франц (Frants) for Germans, Франсуа (Fransua) for French
Samogitian: Prancėškos
Sardinian: Franchiscu, Franciscu, Frantziscu (male version); Franchisca, Francisca, Frantzisca (female version); Tzitzeddu/Tzitzedda, Tzischeddu/Tzischedda, Ciccìttu/Ciccìtta (diminutives)
Scottish Gaelic: Frangag, Frances, Francis
Serbian: Френсис, Franja, Franc, Francisko (rare in native usage), Slobodan (local version)
Sicilian: Franciscu, Ciscu
Slovak: František
Slovene: Frančišek, Franček, France, Franci, Franc, Fran, Franko
Spanish: Francisco, Paco, Paquito, Curro, Fran, Quico, Pancho, Cisco, Chisco, Francisca (female version), Paca (female version), Paqui or Paquita (female version)
Swahili: Fransisko
Swedish: Franciskus, Frans
Tamil: பிரான்சிஸ் (Pirāṉcis)
Telugu: ఫ్రాన్సిస్ (Phrānsis)
Thai: ฟรานซิส (Frānsis̄)
Turkish: Fransız, Fransuva
Ukrainian: Франциск (Frantsysk), Франциска (Frantsyska, female version)
Venetian: Francesco (Francesca, female version), Fransisco (Fransisca, female version), Francisco (Francisca, female version)
Vietnamese: Phanxicô
Welsh: Fransis (or Fransys)
West Frisian: Fransiskus
Yiddish: פראַנסיס (Fransis)

List of people with the given name Francis

Francis Alcantara (born 1992), professional tennis player from the Philippines
Francis Alÿs (born 1959), Belgian-born, Mexico-based artist
Francis Andersen (1925–2020), Australian scholar in the fields of biblical studies and Hebrew
Francis Bacon (1561–1626), English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method
Francis Bacon (artist) (1909–1992), Irish-born English artist
Francis Baines (1648–1710), English Jesuit
Francis "Fritz" Barzilauskas (1920–1990), American National Football League player
Francis Bernard (disambiguation), multiple people
Francis Bohlen (1868–1942), American professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
Francis Bouillon (born 1975), American-Canadian ice hockey player
Francis S. Bowling (1916–1997), justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi
Francis Martin Patrick "Frankie" Boyle (born 1972), British stand-up comedian
Francis Cabrel (born 1953), French singer-songwriter, composer and guitarist
Francis Capra (born 1983), American actor
Sir Francis Chichester (1901-1972), British businessman, pioneering aviator and solo sailor
Francis Collins (born 1950), American physician-scientist
Francis Ford Coppola (born 1939), American film-director, producer, and screenwriter
Francis Coquelin (born 1991), French professional footballer
Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909), American writer
Francis Crick (1916–2004), British molecular biologist and winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Francis Napier Denison (1866-1940), Canadian meteorologist, inventor, seismologist, and astronomer
Francis E. Donoghue (1872–1952), member of Illinois State House of Representatives
Francis Donald Logan (1930–2022), American historian
Francis Drake (1540–1596), English sea captain
Francis Elliott (journalist), British journalist
Francis Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), American novelist and short story writer
Francis B. Foley (1887–1973), American metallurgist
Francis Fontaine (author) (1845–1901), American poet and novelist
Francis Fukuyama (born 1952), American political scientist
Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911), British polymath
Francois Xavier Gouraud (1877-1913), French physician and dietitian
Francis Greenslade, Australian comedic actor
Francis Griffith (disambiguation)
Francis Grignon (born 1944), French politician
Francis Grose, English antiquary, draughtsman, and lexicographer
Francis C. Heitmeier (born 1950), American politician
Francis Alick "Frankie" Howerd (1917–1992), British comedian and actor
Francis Huré (1916–2021) French resistant, diplomat and writer
Francis Irving, British computer programmer and activist for freedom of information
Francis Scott Key (1779–1843), writer of the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Francis Kilcoyne (died 1985), American President of Brooklyn College
Francis Kobangoye (born 1990), Gabonese basketball player
Francis Kompaon (born 1986), T46 Papua New Guinean athlete
Francis Lai (1932–2018), French composer, noted for his film scores
Francis Lawrence (born 1971), American filmmaker and producer
Francis Magalona (1964–2009), Filipino rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and television personality
Francis Magee (born 1959), Irish actor
Francis Magundayao (born 1999), Filipino actor and model
Francis Manapul (born 1979), Canadian comic book artist and writer
Francis March (1825–1911), American polymath, academic, philologist, and lexicographer
Francis Marion, also known as the Swamp Fox, military officer in the American Revolutionary War
Francis Marrash, Syrian scholar, publicist, writer, poet, and physician
Francis Maude, British Conservative politician
Francis J. McCaffrey (1917–1989), American lawyer and politician from The Bronx, New York
Francis J. McCaffrey Jr. (1902–1972), American lawyer and politician from Brooklyn, New York
Francis McDonald (1891–1968), American actor
Francis Davis Millet (1848–1912), American artist and RMS Titanic sinking victim
Francis Molo (born 1994), New Zealand-Australian rugby league player
Francis Narh (born 1994), Ghanaian footballer
Francis Ng (born 1961), Hong Kong actor and director
Francis Ngannou (born 1986), Cameroonian-French mixed martial artist
Francis Obikwelu (born 1978), retired Nigerian-born Portuguese sprinter
Francis Omaswa, Ugandan cardiovascular surgeon, academic and administrator
Francis Ouimet (1893–1967), American amateur golfer
Francis Owen (1886–1975), Canadian philologist and military officer
Francis Owusu (born 1994), American football player
Francis Paré (born 1987), Canadian-Belarusian professional ice hockey forward
Francis Pasion (1978–2016), Filipino independent film and television drama director
Francis E. Patterson (1821-1862), American military officer
Francis Peacock (1723–1807), Scottish dance teacher and musician
Francis "Frank" Pearson (1937–2003), British drag queen known as Foo Foo Lammar
Francis Penrose (1817–1903), English architect, archaeologist, astronomer and sportsman rower
Francis Petre (1847–1918), New Zealand-born architect based in Dunedin
Francis Pollock (1876–1957), Canadian science fiction writer
Francis Ponge (1899-1988), French essayist and poet
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963), French composer and pianist
Francis Pound (1948-2017), New Zealand art historian, curator and writer
Francis Repellin (born 1969), French nordic combined skier
Sir Francis Ronalds (1788–1873), English scientist and inventor
Francis Rosa (1920–2012), American sports journalist
Francis Rossi (born 1949), British musician
Francis Rundall (1908–1987), British diplomat
Francis Saunderson (1754–1827), Anglo-Irish politician
Francis Alexander Shields (1941-2003), American businessman and executive at Revlon in New York City
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (1915–1998), American singer, actor, and producer
Francis Sultana, Maltese-born furniture and interior designer
Francis Tolentino (born 1960), Filipino politician and senator
Francis Valentino, American musician
Francis Webb (disambiguation), multiple people
Francis Parker Yockey, American writer, lawyer and philosopher
Francis Zamora (born 1977), Filipino politician, businessman, and basketball player

Aristocracy

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (1708–1765), also Francis III, Duke of Lorraine

France

Francis I of France, King of France (1494–1547)
Francis II of France, King of France (1544–1560)
Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414–1450)
Francis II, Duke of Brittany (1433–1488)
Francis III, Duke of Brittany (1518–1536)
Francis I, Duke of Lorraine (1517–1545)
Francis II, Duke of Lorraine (1572–1632)

German-speaking countries

Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, also Francis I, Emperor of Austria (1768–1835)
Franz, Duke of Bavaria (born 1933), called "Francis II" by Jacobite supporters

Iberian monarchies

Prince Francis Joseph of Braganza (1878–1919), Infante of Portugal, 2nd son of Miguel II, legitimist claimant to the throne of Portugal
Francis of Spain (1822–1902), Duke of Cádiz, King Consort of Queen Isabella II

Italy

Francis I of the Two Sicilies (1777–1830)
Francis II of the Two Sicilies (1836–1894)
Francis IV, Duke of Modena (1779–1846)
Francis V, Duke of Modena (1819–1875)

Hungary

Francis I Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania (1645–1676)
Francis II Rákóczi, Duke of Hungary and Prince Transylvania (1676–1735)

Scandinavia

Francis of Denmark (1497–1511), Prince of Denmark, Norway and Sweden

Religious figures

Pope Francis (born 1936), the current pope
Francis of Assisi (1181/1182–1226), Italian Catholic friar and saint
Francis de Sales (1567–1622), French Catholic bishop and saint
Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Basque Catholic Jesuit missionary and saint
Francis George, OMI (1937–2015), cardinal and Archbishop of Chicago (1997–2014)

Fictional characters

Francis, in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Francis, the school bully in The Fairly OddParents
Francis "Frank" Barone, in Everybody Loves Raymond
Francis Buxton, in the 1985 American adventure comedy film Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Francis "Frank" Castle, from Marvel Comics, also known as the Punisher
Francis Mo Siu Wai 毛小慧, in 2000 Hong Kong's TVB sitcom War Of The Genders 男親女愛
Francis the Talking Mule, featured in seven movies in the 1950s, voiced by Chill Wills
Francis Underwood, from the Netflix original series House of Cards
Francis Urquhart, lead character of the British political thriller House of Cards (British TV series)
Francis Abernathy, in Donna Tartt's 1992 novel The Secret History
Dr. Francis Camillus, a character in the 2017 ABS-CBN drama series My Dear Heart
Francis, a bulldog in the 1988 Disney animated film Oliver & Company
Francis, a ladybug in the 1998 Disney/Pixar animated film A Bug's Life
Francis, Malcolm's oldest brother in Malcolm in the Middle
Francis Xavier Cross, "Frank", Scrooge-like protagonist in the Christmas comedy Scrooged
Francis Freeman, from Deadpool
Francis E. Francis, from The Boss Baby
Frank Gallagher, from the UK TV show Shameless
Francis McReary, a corrupt police officer from Grand Theft Auto IV
Francis, a nerdy, anthropomorphic chameleon and one of the bosses in the video game Super Paper Mario
Francis Xavier Reagan, "Frank," the current NYPD police commissioner in the TV series Blue Bloods
Frank Drebin, from Police Squad
Francis "Franco" Begbie, in the Trainspotting novel by Irvine Welsh
Fran Bow, a main protagonist in the game of the same name
Francis Butthurst Pope, a main character in the Big Nate comic strip
Purple Francis, a nonexistent protagonist of the Left 4 Dead video game franchise, created as an internet hoax
Francis, a boy who is the son of Fatty Fudge from the Minnie the Minx comic strip in The Beano
Francis, a Golden Retriever in The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, leader of Guild in Bungo Stray Dogs
Francis "Frank" Murphy, from the adult animated comedy series F Is for Family

References

^ "Francis". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
^ "Francis". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17.
^ Navarro, Yvonne (2007). First Name Reverse Dictionary: Given Names Listed by Meaning, 2d ed. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers. pp. 110–112. ISBN 9780786429349.
^ "Baby Name Statistics". Baby Names – England and Wales, ONS. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (1924). St. Francis of Assisi (14th ed.). Garden City, New York: Image Books. p. 158.
^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Francis" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 933.
^ Francis

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[1] "Francis". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2016-02-07.

[2] "Francis". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17.

[3] Navarro, Yvonne (2007). First Name Reverse Dictionary: Given Names Listed by Meaning, 2d ed. McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers. pp. 110–112. ISBN 9780786429349.

[4] "Baby Name Statistics". Baby Names – England and Wales, ONS. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[Chesterton-5] Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (1924). St. Francis of Assisi (14th ed.). Garden City, New York: Image Books. p. 158.

[6] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Francis" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 933.

[7] Francis

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