Frankie: Baby Name of the Day

The baby name Frankie feels like an old school choice right at home in the 2020s.

Thanks to Marie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME FRANKIE MEAN?

Francis is an impeccable classic, worn by men of accomplishment, from scientist Francis Bacon to the current Pope.

The name starts out with a saint: Saint Francis of Assisi.

It comes from the Latin Latin name Franciscus, which meant Frenchman. The story goes like this: young Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone was the son of a successful merchant. In fact, his dad was abroad when Giovanni was born, in the year 1181. Possibly because of his father’s travels at the time, or maybe simply because young Giovanni was curious about his dad’s trips to France, he became known as Francesco. He’d eventually renounce his family’s wealth and found a religious order that endures to this day.

Let’s return to Franciscus for a minute. France is named for the Franks, a Germanic tribe. And the Franks were named for the type of spear they used. 

So Francis is shortend to Frank and, yes, Frankie.

Though Frank can also be short for Franklin, a surname with a slightly different origin. It comes from a Middle English term meaning freeman or gentleman.

MORE FRANCIS NAMES

Besides Francis, the boys’ US Top 1000 includes:

• Francisco
• Franco
• Frank
• Franklin

But not Frankie.

Instead, Frankie ranks in the US Top 1000 baby girl names.

FEMININE FORMS OF FRANCIS

Any name with such a long history inevitably means masculine and feminine forms.

Frances is considered the feminine equivalent of Francis today, but the spellings were used interchangably for years. (See women recorded as Francis in sixteenth century England here.)

The Italian Francesca is also popular in the US, ranking slightly ahead of Frances at the moment.

And then there’s Frankie. Just like Billie and Charlie, it’s often considered a feminine form of a more traditionally masculine name.

FAMOUS FRANKIES

In the last century or so, the baby name Frankie has been used by boys and girls alike.

During the 1960s and 70s, singer Frankie Valli – born Francesco Castelluccio – recorded a long string of pop hits. Frankie Lymon was a pop star even earlier, as a member of the The Teenagers in the 1950s. (Their big hit? “Why Do Fools Fall in Love.”) Lymon’s birth name? Franklin. And then there’s wildly successful 1950s and 60s teen icon Frankie Avalon, born Francis.

Also making Frankie a boy’s name: Frankie Muniz, the actor best known for playing the title role in Malcolm in the Middle. More recently, Frankie Rodriguez played Carlos in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. The youngest Jonas brother – the one who doesn’t sing with Kevin, Joe, and Nick, but does have an acting/musical career of his own – is another Franklin called Frankie.

SADIE, HATTIE, WINNIE

Names like Sadie, Hattie, and Winnie are having a moment. Sadie surged into the US Top 100 in 2013, and the trend continues to bring more sparky, retro nicknames to the top of the popularity charts. 

Plenty of favorites in this category are borrowed from the boys. Charlie, Stevie, and Scottie rank in the current US Top 1000. In years past, choices like Willie, Freddie, Jamie, Georgie, and Johnnie have ranked for girls, too. 

Adding an ‘ie’ or a ‘y’ to a masculine name has always been one way to form a girl’s name. If a favorite like Jack is on your family tree, then Jackie might be the obvious choice for a daughter.

Given the popularity of Francis names, as firsts and lasts, plenty of families might end up with a Frannie or a Frankie.

Actress Drew Barrymore welcomed a daughter named Frankie in 2014. Franco was a family surname on her former husband’s side.

Barrymore’s older daughter is Olive. But it’s easy to imagine Frankie as a sister for Hallie, Elsie, or any similar name, too.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY

Frankie might be Hattie’s sister, but she’s Johnny’s girl.

There’s a folk song based on a real life heartbreak-turned-crime. A girl (Frankie) catches her guy (Johnny) flirting with another woman. Frankie shoots her faithless beau, and the rest is … rich inspiration for storytellers.

The song has been recorded hundreds of times. Stage plays and movies have adapted the tale. Elvis Presley and Al Pacino have played various versions of Johnny.

In 1991, one memorable Frankie was played by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Neither version was faithful to the folk song. Elvis’ version took place on a riverboat. Al & Michelle’s was at a diner.

MORE FEMALE FRANKIES

Other female Frankies include:

• Halle Berry played Frankie in Frankie & Alice. 
• The mom on The Middle and the kid sister on The Haunted Hathaways both answered to the name.
• The Monster High universe includes Frankie Stein.
• There’s also British pop star Frankie Bridge, born Francesca.

In terms of pop culture and general expectations, Frankie seems pretty evenly split between the female and male name categories.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME FRANKIE?

But let’s look at popularity.

As with any nickname, it’s not thateasy.

Women named Frances and Francesca can be Fran or Franny or Frankie. Or not.

Likewise, men who answer to the nickname are actually Franklin and Francis and Frank. 

Official United States data can’t – obviously – track these subtleties. 

But what we do know is this: in 2023, 500 girls and 216 boys were named Frankie. That means Frankie ranks #568 for girls, the highest ranking since 1960. It does not appear on the list of most popular names for boys.

So is Frankie a boy’s name or a girl’s name?

• From the 1880s into the 1930s, the baby name Frankie was more popular for girls.
• That switched in the 1940s. Through the early 2010s, Frankie was more likely to be used for baby boys.
• As of 2015, the numbers flipped again, and Frankie is rising in use for our daughters. 

Still, on balance, Frankie is properly considered a unisex name.

In England Wales, Frankie ranks in the boys’ Top 100 and just outside the Top 100 for girls.

LIVELY, HIGH-ENERGY CHOICE

Francis and Frances are distinguished. Franklin is quite buttoned-up. Frank is down to earth.

But Frankie? Frankie seems energetic. Vivacious. Sparky, even.

It fits right in with favorites for our daughters, but has plenty of potential as a retro name for our sons, too.

What do you think about the baby name Frankie?

First published on December 3, 2014, this post was revised and re-published on December 18, 2024.