Frank

At a Glance

Meaning

A Frank (member of the Frankish people)

Origin

Germanic (Frankish)

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

FRANKListen

Frank has a straightforward Germanic origin: it comes from the Frankish people, so a "Frank" originally just meant a member of that group. You'll often see it claimed that the name means "free man," but that's a later meaning attached to the word frank/franc rather than the original sense — the actual root of the Frankish name itself is uncertain, with Wiktionary pointing to a possible connection to "javelin." It's a short, familiar name (FRANK, /ˈfræŋ/) with a long history in use.

Meaning & Origin of Frank

Meaning: A frank (member of the frankish people).

Origin: Germanic (Frankish).

A common claim: widely said to mean "free man" Actually: "Free man" reflects a later meaning of the word frank/franc. The name more directly means "a Frank," a member of the Frankish people — though the root of that ethnonym itself is uncertain; Wiktionary suggests it may possibly mean "javelin."

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Frank

Popularity of Frank

Frank peaked at #6 in 1880 with 3,242 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had settled to #468 with 656 — still in use, just far from its 19th-century high.

Names Like Frank

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Hubert
• Jerry
• Lance
• Leonard
• Norbert
• Roger

FAQ

What does the name Frank mean?

A frank (member of the frankish people). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Frank?

Frank is pronounced FRANK (IPA: /ˈfræŋk/).

Is Frank a popular name right now?

Frank peaked at #6 in 1880 and is ranked #468 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Frank Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Frank, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.