Franklin
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning free landowner; from frank.
How Franklin has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #444 |
| 2016 | #423 |
| 2017 | #438 |
| 2018 | #436 |
| 2019 | #423 |
| 2020 | #413 |
| 2021 | #395 |
| 2022 | #408 |
| 2023 | #410 |
| 2024 | #385 |
| 2025 | #359 |
Franklin by the numbers
In 2025, 158 babies in England and Wales were named Franklin. In the US, 707 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 5,362 babies in 1933, so it is a 1930s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1935, about 1 in 410 American boys born that year was called Franklin.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Franklin. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean freedom
Like Franklin, each of these has freedom in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Charlesfree man7,142 in the US (2017)
- Maverickindependent, unbranded4,737 in the US (2017)
- Charliefree man1,679 in England and Wales (2025)
- Carlosfree man; a form of Charles3,058 in the US (2017)
- Franciscofree man, frenchman; from Franciscus1,398 in the US (2017)
- Frankfree man272 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Franklin
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