Fran: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Fran

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1960

297 babies

All-time total

5,339

#2,592 all-time among girls

First recorded

1912

in Social Security records

Fran popularity over time

5,339 babies have been named Fran since 1912, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	66	5	71	7	–	#2,235
1920s	106	–	106	11	+49%	#2,241
1930s	279	16	295	30	+178%	#900
1940s	1,171	49	1,220	122	+314%	#617
1950s	1,694	59	1,753	175	+44%	#605
1960s	1,294	97	1,391	139	-21%	#593
1970s	258	29	287	29	-79%	#2,093
1980s	86	45	131	13	-54%	#4,385
1990s	6	32	38	4	-71%	#11,999
2000s	–	18	18	2	-53%	–
2010s	5	18	23	2	+28%	#17,348
2020s (to 2025)	–	6	6	1	-57%	–

The story of Fran

Fran is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1912, 5,339 American babies have been named Fran, about 93% girls and 7% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1960, when 297 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Fran stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Fran?

The median living Fran is about 67 years old; half are between 62 and 74. An estimated 4,100 people named Fran are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Fran year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	6	#11,111
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	6	#11,211
2016	–	–	7	#9,996
2015	5	#17,348	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	5	#12,877
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	5	#11,939
2003	–	–	8	#8,090
2002	–	–	5	#11,256
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	5	#8,561
1985	7	#8,633	–	–
1980	17	#4,385	10	#3,937
1975	25	#2,898	–	–
1970	39	#2,093	7	#3,985
1965	100	#1,050	9	#2,861
1960	280	#593	17	#2,000
1955	177	#710	5	#4,052
1950	97	#901	–	–
1945	100	#751	6	#3,119
1940	60	#930	–	–
1935	34	#1,230	9	#2,596
1930	12	#2,592	–	–
1925	12	#2,837	–	–
1920	8	#3,738	–	–
1915	6	#3,952	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Fran

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Fran Drescher American actress and writer (born 1957) Contemporary
2 Fran Walsh New Zealand screenwriter and producer b. 1959 · Contemporary
3 Fran Kranz American actor b. 1981 · Contemporary
4 Fran Healy Scottish musician b. 1973 · Contemporary
5 Fran Beltrán Spanish footballer (born 1999) Contemporary
6 Fran Mérida Spanish footballer b. 1990 · Contemporary
7 Fran Vázquez Spanish basketball player (born 1983) Contemporary
8 Fran Halsall British swimmer (born 1990) Contemporary
9 Fran Escribá Spanish footballer and manager (born 1965) Contemporary
10 Fran Krsto Frankopan Croatian baroque poet, nobleman and politician 1643–1671 · 17th century
11 Fran Sol Spanish footballer (born 1992) Contemporary
12 Fran Rico Spanish footballer b. 1987 · Contemporary
13 Fran Levstik Slovenian writer 1831–1887 · 19th century
14 Fran Topics referred to by the same term b. 1969 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Fran, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Fran?

The median living Fran is about 67 years old. Half of all living Frans are between 62 and 74 years old.

How many people named Fran are alive today?

An estimated 4,100 people named Fran are alive in the United States, based on 5,339 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Fran mean?

A diminutive of the female given names Frances and Francine.

How popular is the name Fran in 2025?

Fran did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Fran?

5,339 babies have been named Fran in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Fran most popular?

Fran peaked in 1960, when 297 newborns received the name.

Is Fran a boy or girl name?

Fran is used for both: about 93% of babies named Fran have been girls and 7% boys.

Is the name Fran rising or falling?

Fran is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Fran?

Well-known people named Fran include Fran Drescher (actor), Fran Walsh (film director), Fran Kranz (actor).

Names like Fran

Names that sound and feel close to Fran: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Fran with similar names → More names starting with F →