Zappa. Sinatra. Gehry. Baum. Does this pick guarantee your son will be destined for creative genius?
Thanks to Jane, aka the Foxymoron, for suggesting Frank as our Baby Name of the Day.
Frank was a Top Ten name when the US rankings were established in 1880. He stayed in the Top Ten until 1922, and remained in the Top 100 until 1988.
That’s not counting boys who were named the more formal Francis, but only answered to the short form.
It makes for a long list, including:
- Legendary crooner Frank Sinatra, born Francis Albert;
- L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz series;
- Architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry;
- Modern music trailblazers Frank Zappa and Frank Black;
- Director Frank Capra;
- Plenty of athletes, political leaders, and more.
Today, Frank sounds a little bit like a virtue name. But his roots are actually tied to the map. A Germanic tribe known as the Franks appears in the historical record as early as the first century; by 509, Clovis I reigned as King of the Franks. The tribe probably took their name from a javelin they favored, known as the frankon or franka. The Normans brought Frank to England as a personal name.
In the late 1100s, the Latin Franciscus – Frenchman – was a nickname given to the future Saint Francis of Assisi. He’d been baptized Giovanni, but his dad – a successful merchant – had been on business in France when his son was born. Dad nicknamed him Francesco, and father and son both shared an enthusiasm for all things related to French culture. But Francesco turned his back on privilege to form a religious order dedicated to living a simple life. He’s also the patron saint of animals.
In the sixteenth century, Saint Francis Xavier founded the religious order known as the Jesuits. Countless boys were named in honor of one or both of the religious figures.
As for the adjective frank, it also ties back to the tribe. Back in the day, only the conquering Franks were free – and so, free to speak.
Add it all up, and he’s clearly a saintly classic with quite a bit of backstory. And yet, Frank’s been falling out of favor for decades. A resurgence of interest in all things related to the Rat Pack failed to bolster ol’ Blue Eyes’ name. In 2009, Frank stood at just #289 – and had fallen steadily for decades.
Frank does have starbaby cred: Elvis Costello and Diana Krall used it for a son, Frank Harlan James, twin brother to Dexter Henry Lorcan. Amanda Peet’s older daughter is Frances Pen, called Frankie.
File Frank with other once ordinary choices that now sound offbeat on a child. There’s a capable vibe about Frank – you expect him to own more than one wrench, to be the guy you can call when your engine light clicks on. He’s not quite a grandpa name, but not quite primed for revival, either.
Let’s call him part of the next wave, a likely successor to Jack and Gus, Max and Sam. There’s also the presidential Franklin, which could put a stylish surname spin on Frank.
Regardless of his rather frosty ranking right now, Frank deserves recognition as a classic, an every guy name that will almost certainly make a comeback – eventually.
Frank still feels a little harsh and musty to me, but I love Frances for a girl…
In other news, Christina Applegate had her little girl – Sadie Grace LeNoble! I’m sort of obsessed with Sadie LeNoble. How cute is that?
I love Frank — esp as short for either Francis or Frances. Then, for either gender, you have the softer option as well. Plus, my gramps was Francis.
I know a little Francis, who goes by Francis – it is quite nice on a boy, but I’m curious to hear what he prefers when he hits school age.
I know a Francis (jr) who is school age – dad goes by Frank and son is Francis. I find it really charming as it suits his personality to a T…
Whenever I hear Frank I tend to think of Anne Frank, whom I admire greatly. That was fascinating trivia about St. Francis, aka Giovanni!
I think it is one of the most fascinating name stories … I think of it whenever I hear Miley dismissed as an inauthentic name.
I was going to campaign to use Franklin for a boy, if our girls had been boys. We’ve had a lot of significant Franks in our lives (including the person who introduced me to my spouse), and the -lin subtly ties him to my grandfather and my mother.
The only thing I really don’t like about Frank is that it’s another name for a hot dog. 😛 Wouldn’t really want to put that on my son…
And you know … I never thought of hot dogs. Good point. Possibly hampering the Frank revival …
Frank Zappa. Frankie Goes to Hollywood. “Blank Frank” (old Brian Eno song). Yeah, this name has good musical associations for me. But then I also think of Frank Burns from M*A*S*H, he of “Ferret Face” and “Frank Burns eats worms” fame. 🙂 I’d probably never use it, but I do like the thought of Frankie as a nickname for a lovely little Francesca (a name I absolutely adore).
My great grandfather was a Franklin who went by Frank. I love it! The name Francesca (nn Frankie) is in our name list for a girl, too.
I love Franklin for a boy. And I adore Francie as a nickname for Frances for a girl. However, I had a lab named Francie (named after a character from the first season of Alias), so I think it’s out for a girl.
I really do like Franklin on a boy. We live a stone’s throw from a popular restaurant/brewery called Franklin’s, though – so there’s no way we could consider it!
I like Fred, which makes me think Frank is pretty cool too. But maybe I’m liking it more because it’s the name of my brother’s dog. (Not that I’ve met the dog, but that I hear the name every now and then.) The dog connection means it would probably be weird for me to name a son Frank – though I guess, not totally out of the question, with the dog being very old and in another country. 😛
It’s one I’d guess that was more popular in the UK? (I can never seem to find the link to the official England names.)
Frankie is rather cute on a girl too, short for Francis. Francis isn’t one I’d pick for a girl though – and Frankie being cute for girls does detract from my like of Frank for a boy.
I’ve not met any little Franks – though I may remember a Franklin at the library storytime awhile back.
I do think you’re right about him making a comeback in years to come.
Since Hank for Henry seems to be in the midst of a revival, I can only imagine Frank is set to follow …
I’m not sure about the UK. It’s not in the Top 100 – you have to download their Excel spreadsheet: https://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15282
Oh, and Frankie was the little girl in Blue Valentine, so yeah, Frankie for a girl? Very current. And I like it a lot.
I LOVE Frank! I’ve mentioned my fabulous Uncle Frank before. His mail always said “Francis M. C(surname) but he really was ‘just’ Frank. (My Mother was a Frances) So I have a few reasons to love the suave simplicity that is Frank. I have Francis Henry Porfirio on my long list, nn Frankie when he’s small and Frank when he’s bigger. Frank fits with my kids without trying. I really like his vibe: strong, capable, smooth & dashing. Yeah, Frank is absolutely, completely awesome!