What Does the Name Frances Mean?
Frances is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning “from France; Frenchwoman.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Frances |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | from France; Frenchwoman |
| Variants | Francesca, Françoise, Francisca, Fanny, Frankie |
| Popularity | A top-20 US name in the early 20th century; now uncommon but seeing a gentle revival, often via the nickname Frankie. |
The meaning and origin of Frances
The name Frances means “from France; Frenchwoman” and has Latin origins. The feminine form of Francis, from the Late Latin Franciscus meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free one.' The spelling Frances distinguishes the female form from the male Francis in English.
Variants and related names
Frances is related to several other names you may recognize: Francesca, Françoise, Francisca, Fanny, Frankie. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Frances?
A top-20 US name in the early 20th century; now uncommon but seeing a gentle revival, often via the nickname Frankie.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Frances mean?+
The name Frances means “from France; Frenchwoman” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name Frances?+
Frances originates from Latin.
Is Frances a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Frances has trended in the US over time.
Frances by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press