name
Common
Francis
FRAHN-sihs
Francis (name) means a male given name, from Latin Franciscus ("Frenchman"). Example: “Pope Francis chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.”
name
1
A male given name, from Latin Franciscus ("Frenchman").
"Francis had never been 'Frank' or 'Fran', he had always been called by his full name. It had lent him a certain dignity that he had possibly never earned."
— Kate Atkinson, One Good Turn (2006)
"Pope Francis chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi."
"Francis riled conservative cardinals with his compassion for migrants and refugees, openness towards LGBTQ+ Catholics and demands for action on the climate crisis."
— Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood, White smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals election of new pope (2025)
How to use Francis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional male given name, historically meaning "Frenchman."
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Pope _____ chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin Franciscus ("French, Frankish"), from Francia ("France").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Francis” mean?
The word “Francis” means a male given name, from Latin Franciscus ("Frenchman"). In plain terms, a traditional male given name, historically meaning "Frenchman.".
How do you pronounce “Francis”?
“Francis” is pronounced FRAHN-sihs (/ˈfɹeə̯nsɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Francis” in a sentence?
Here is “Francis” used in a sentence: “Pope Francis chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.”
What part of speech is “Francis”?
“Francis” is a name.
Where does the word “Francis” come from?
The word “Francis” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin Franciscus ("French, Frankish"), from Francia ("France").
Is “Francis” a common word?
“Francis” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Francis and Frances?
Francis with an i is traditionally the male form of the name, while Frances with an e is traditionally the female form. A common way to remember the spellings is that Francis contains i as in him and Frances contains e as in her.
What are common nicknames for Francis?
Frank is the most common short form of Francis, and Frankie and Fran are also widely used. Which nickname a person prefers is individual, so it is polite to follow their own usage.
Where does the name Francis come from?
Francis comes from the Latin name Franciscus, meaning Frenchman. It entered English as a male given name and has remained in steady use across the English-speaking world.
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