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Name Lineage

    The first name Francesca

    A girl’s name from Italian meaning “frances”, “francis”, “france”.

    Pronounced /fɹænˈsɛskə/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Italian origin

    Francesca means “frances”, “francis”, “france” in Italian.

    Borrowed from Italian Francesca (“Frances”), the feminine form of Francesco (“Francis”), from Late Latin Franciscus, from Francia (“France”) + -iscus (“-ish”). Doublet of Frances and Francisca.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 434 girls were named Francesca, making it the 107th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1998, with 1,052 births (#53).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    19,186
    babies named Francesca, 1996–2025
    #107
    rank in 2025
    1998
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Francesca with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Francesca at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 984 girls born in the United States were named Francesca, the 307th most popular girls’ name that year.

    05001,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    35,364
    babies named Francesca since 1880
    #307
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Francesca

    • Cesca

    Other spellings and forms

    • Franchesca

    Famous people named Francesca

    39 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Francesca Woodman
      American photographer (1958 - 1981)
    • Francesca Annis
      English actress, born 1945
    • Francesca Capaldi
      American actress, born 2004
    • Francesca Archibugi
      Film director (born 1960)
    • Francesca Eastwood
      American actress, born 1993
    • Francesca Le
      American pornographic actress and director, born 1970
    • Francesca Bonnemaison i Farriols
      Educator, writer and feminist, 1872–1949
    • Francesca Hilton
      American actress (1947–2015)
    • Francesca Jones
      British tennis player, born 2000
    • Maria Francesca Rossetti
      English author (1827–1876)
    • Francesca Lia Block
      American children's writer, born 1962
    • Francesca Simon
      British author, born 1953

    More Italian girls’ names

    All 80 names of Italian origin

    Questions

    What does the name Francesca mean?
    Francesca means “frances”, “francis”, “france” in Italian.
    What is the origin of the name Francesca?
    Borrowed from Italian Francesca (“Frances”), the feminine form of Francesco (“Francis”), from Late Latin Franciscus, from Francia (“France”) + -iscus (“-ish”). Doublet of Frances and Francisca.
    How popular is the name Francesca?
    In 2025, 434 girls born in England and Wales were named Francesca, ranking 107th. Its peak was 1998, with 1,052 births.
    What are nicknames for Francesca?
    Common nicknames for Francesca include Cesca.
    Is Francesca a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 35,364 US babies named Francesca since 1880 were girls.
    When was Francesca most popular?
    2025 in the United States, when 984 babies were named Francesca, its highest rank at 307th.
    How do you pronounce Francesca?
    Francesca is /fɹænˈsɛskə/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Francesca?
    Franchesca.