Frank
Say it: FRANK/ˈfɹæŋk/
BoyMeans a Frank, and a short form of Francis5 letters1 syllable
#286
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#139
best rank (1966)
971
babies since 1964
Down 48
10-year rank change
Frank through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 16 | #263 |
| 2023 | 16 | #262 |
| 2022 | 14 | #297 |
| 2021 | 29 | #182 |
| 2020 | 18 | #253 |
| 2019 | 24 | #214 |
| 2018 | 19 | #254 |
| 2017 | 29 | #197 |
| 2016 | 33 | #177 |
| 2015 | 24 | #228 |
| 2014 | 18 | #267 |
| 2013 | 18 | #271 |
| 2012 | 23 | #240 |
| 2011 | 24 | #225 |
| 2010 | 25 | #220 |
| 2009 | 16 | #283 |
| 2008 | 24 | #219 |
| 2007 | 15 | #253 |
| 2006 | 13 | #257 |
| 2005 | 22 | #181 |
| 2004 | 9 | #283 |
| 2003 | 16 | #187 |
| 2002 | 17 | #185 |
| 2001 | 19 | #165 |
| 2000 | 11 | #206 |
| 1999 | 15 | #180 |
| 1998 | 11 | #193 |
| 1997 | 19 | #162 |
| 1996 | 7 | #261 |
| 1995 | 12 | #198 |
| 1994 | 11 | #192 |
| 1993 | 9 | #213 |
| 1992 | 12 | #192 |
| 1991 | 10 | #201 |
| 1990 | 13 | #183 |
| 1989 | 19 | #154 |
| 1988 | 8 | #207 |
| 1987 | 20 | #152 |
| 1986 | 16 | #165 |
| 1985 | 16 | #163 |
| 1984 | 11 | #192 |
| 1983 | 11 | #198 |
| 1982 | 16 | #169 |
| 1981 | 11 | #202 |
| 1980 | 14 | #191 |
| 1979 | 16 | #172 |
| 1978 | 6 | #242 |
| 1977 | 13 | #184 |
| 1976 | 19 | #164 |
| 1975 | 17 | #168 |
| 1974 | 16 | #173 |
| 1973 | 17 | #169 |
| 1972 | 14 | #180 |
| 1971 | 14 | #174 |
| 1970 | 9 | #197 |
| 1969 | 13 | #163 |
| 1968 | 6 | #207 |
| 1967 | 15 | #142 |
| 1966 | 14 | #139 |
| 1965 | 5 | #207 |
| 1964 | 9 | #164 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Frank mean?
A Frank, and a short form of Francis
English, from the name of the Franks, a Germanic people, and later a short form of Francis.
Say it right
FRANK
The story of Frank
Frank comes from the name of the Franks, a Germanic people who settled in what is now France, the Low Countries and western Germany. Their name may go back to an old word for a spear or javelin, though that link is not certain. France itself is named after them.
The given name has two roots in English. It was used on its own from the Middle Ages, and it also became the everyday short form of Francis. In Frank McCourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes, a teacher insists there was never a Saint Frank, a joke on exactly that overlap.
In Ireland Frank has been a steady, modest choice throughout the CSO records. It has never been common, but it has never gone away either. Its biggest year was 2016, with 33 boys, and 15 boys were given the name in 2025. Many more Irish men are called Frank day to day but were registered as Francis.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Frank (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Frank (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Frankie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Frank | 15 | 971 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #185 (2019); 117 babies since 2003.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.