Frank
Peaked at #6 nationally in 1880, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Frank has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Frank traces back to the Germanic tribal name for the Franks, generally understood to mean "free man," a people whose name also gave rise to "France." It has long functioned both as an independent name and as a short form of Francis or Franklin, the latter popularized in the U.S. through Benjamin Franklin and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Notable people & culture
Frank Sinatra remains one of the most influential singers and actors of the 20th century, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright is regarded as a defining figure in American design. Musician Frank Zappa brought the name into rock history through his experimental work. It was especially common among American men born in the early 1900s.
Play with Frank
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Frank.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Frank — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#436
in 1890
Last ranked
#18553
in 2007
Years tracked
119
1880–2007
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Frank reached its peak popularity for girls in 1890, ranking #436 nationally with 34 babies given the name that year.
Frank hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 2007, when it stood at #18553.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #18,553 | 5 |
| 1997 | #9,281 | 9 |
| 1996 | #9,044 | 9 |
| 1995 | #5,514 | 17 |
| 1994 | #7,257 | 12 |
| 1993 | #5,280 | 18 |
| 1992 | #10,855 | 7 |
| 1991 | #7,106 | 12 |
Frank — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#6
in 1880
Current rank
#468
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Frank was already at its most popular for boys in 1880 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #6), with 3,242 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #336 (2014) to #468 (2024) — a 28% drop.
As of 2024, Frank ranks #468 nationally for boys, with 656 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #468 | 656 |
| 2023 | #469 | 648 |
| 2022 | #440 | 708 |
| 2021 | #444 | 691 |
| 2020 | #427 | 694 |
| 2019 | #403 | 773 |
| 2018 | #392 | 807 |
| 2017 | #373 | 890 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Frank most popular?
Frank was most popular in 1880, when it ranked #6 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Frank becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Frank?
At least 920,009 babies have been recorded with the name Frank in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Frank? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.