Fun Facts About the Name Franz
- More than 2 thousand babies named Franz: U.S. records list 2,863 babies given the name Franz from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Franz Mean?
Franz is a German masculine given name. It is a short form of Franziskus, the German form of Latin Franciscus, and its literal sense is 'Frenchman' or 'Frankish person.' Franciscus comes from Francus, 'a Frank,' the name of a Germanic people. The deeper origin of the tribal name is uncertain: one old explanation connects it to a word for 'javelin' or 'spear,' while another connects it to an adjective meaning 'free' or 'bold.' The traditional gloss 'free man' belongs to that second explanation. In the Middle Ages the Italian nickname Francesco, generally understood as 'the Frenchman' or 'little Frenchman,' was borne by St. Francis of Assisi and helped spread the name in Catholic Europe. German speakers used Franz as the everyday shortening of Franziskus.
Franz Name History & Origins
In German-speaking Europe, the full form Franziskus was used in religious contexts and in learned writing, while Franz became the ordinary given name. The shortened form is characteristic of German and Austrian naming, and it appears in Catholic regions where saints' names were common. The name was borne by several Habsburg rulers, including Emperor Franz I of Austria and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. In the nineteenth century it was the name of the composer Franz Schubert and the composer and pianist Franz Liszt; in the early twentieth century it was borne by the Prague German-language writer Franz Kafka. The traditional compound Franz Joseph is also common in German-speaking areas. The feminine form is Franziska. Related forms in other languages include English Francis, French François, Italian Francesco, and Spanish Francisco; the Dutch and Scandinavian equivalent is usually Frans.
How Popular is the Name Franz?
Franz recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1963. Its best rank was #833 in 1889.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,459 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2024 | #5,500 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #7,424 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #7,418 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #6,129 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #6,070 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #9,152 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #6,836 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #6,819 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #4,836 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #5,820 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #7,204 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #3,891 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2012 | #5,105 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #7,150 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #5,826 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #5,392 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #7,363 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #5,074 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #4,272 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #5,980 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #4,164 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #4,490 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #4,226 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #3,656 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #4,454 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #4,418 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #3,327 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #3,091 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #2,779 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1995 | #2,869 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #2,977 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #2,972 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1992 | #3,384 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #2,701 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1990 | #2,394 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #2,264 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1988 | #2,270 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1987 | #1,767 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1986 | #1,701 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1985 | #2,140 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1984 | #1,540 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1983 | #2,232 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #2,745 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #2,368 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1980 | #1,502 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1979 | #2,188 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #2,094 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1977 | #1,759 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1976 | #1,625 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1975 | #1,387 | 40 | 0.0026% |
| 1974 | #1,807 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1973 | #1,749 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #1,313 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1971 | #1,338 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1970 | #1,229 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1969 | #1,306 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1968 | #1,137 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1967 | #1,320 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1966 | #1,141 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1965 | #998 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 1964 | #1,154 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1963 | #988 | 59 | 0.0029% |
| 1962 | #1,112 | 48 | 0.0023% |
| 1961 | #1,271 | 39 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #1,216 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 1959 | #1,368 | 33 | 0.0015% |
| 1958 | #1,269 | 37 | 0.0017% |
| 1957 | #1,171 | 44 | 0.0020% |
| 1956 | #1,427 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1955 | #1,279 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1954 | #1,342 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1953 | #1,293 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1952 | #1,562 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #1,416 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1950 | #1,510 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1949 | #1,358 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1948 | #1,778 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #1,752 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #1,337 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1945 | #1,598 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1944 | #1,377 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1943 | #1,599 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1942 | #1,201 | 34 | 0.0025% |
| 1941 | #1,281 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1940 | #1,317 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1939 | #1,333 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1938 | #1,378 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1937 | #1,244 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1936 | #1,192 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1935 | #1,511 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1934 | #1,688 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1933 | #1,471 | 22 | 0.0022% |
| 1932 | #1,524 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1931 | #1,658 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1930 | #1,777 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1929 | #1,821 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1928 | #1,620 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1927 | #1,830 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1926 | #2,470 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #1,957 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #4,047 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #2,497 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1922 | #2,387 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #2,183 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1920 | #1,989 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1919 | #3,537 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #2,026 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #1,498 | 23 | 0.0025% |
| 1916 | #1,127 | 34 | 0.0038% |
| 1915 | #1,524 | 21 | 0.0025% |
| 1914 | #1,281 | 22 | 0.0034% |
| 1913 | #1,614 | 12 | 0.0023% |
| 1912 | #1,381 | 13 | 0.0030% |
| 1911 | #1,607 | 6 | 0.0027% |
| 1910 | #1,679 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1909 | #1,343 | 6 | 0.0037% |
| 1906 | #1,173 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1902 | #1,198 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1895 | #1,143 | 5 | 0.0043% |
| 1894 | #894 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1893 | #949 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1889 | #833 | 7 | 0.0063% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Franz Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Franz's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Franz's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.