Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1963

Franz

Meaning From German Franz Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,459

From German Franz. Doublet of Francis.

Rank 2025
#5,459
among boys · ↑53 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
17
named Franz
How common
1 in 100,475
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1963
60 babies
All-time total
2,864
#2,619 all-time among boys
First recorded
1889
in Social Security records

Franz popularity over time

2,864 babies have been named Franz since 1889, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1889Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 7 1 – #833
1890s 18 2 +157% #894
1900s 17 2 -6% #1,173
1910s 159 16 +835% #1,127
1920s 151 15 -5% #1,620
1930s 229 23 +52% #1,192
1940s 243 24 +6% #1,201
1950s 321 32 +32% #1,171
1960s 446 45 +39% #973
1970s 328 33 -26% #1,229
1980s 299 30 -9% #1,503
1990s 235 24 -21% #2,394
2000s 179 18 -24% #3,656
2010s 148 15 -17% #3,892
2020s (to 2025) 84 14 -5% #5,459

The story of Franz

Franz is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,459 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1889, 2,864 American babies have been named Franz. Its peak came in 1963, when 60 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 Franz stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Franz?

The median living Franz is about 49 years old; half are between 30 and 63. An estimated 2,000 people named Franz are alive in the United States today.

median 49 020406080100

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

Franz year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 17 #5,459
2024 17 #5,512
2023 11 #7,429
2022 11 #7,421
2021 14 #6,132
2020 14 #6,073
2019 8 #9,153
2018 12 #6,836
2017 12 #6,821
2016 20 #4,838
2015 15 #5,821
2014 11 #7,207
2013 26 #3,892
2012 18 #5,105
2011 11 #7,152
2010 15 #5,827
2009 17 #5,393
2008 11 #7,363
2007 18 #5,074
2006 22 #4,274
2005 13 #5,982
2004 21 #4,164
2003 18 #4,490
2002 19 #4,226
2001 23 #3,656
2000 17 #4,455
1995 25 #2,869
1990 29 #2,394
1985 26 #2,140
1980 41 #1,503
1975 40 #1,387
1970 46 #1,229
1965 55 #998
1960 42 #1,216
1955 35 #1,279
1950 24 #1,509
1945 18 #1,598
1940 26 #1,317
1935 21 #1,511
1930 18 #1,777
1925 17 #1,957
1920 17 #1,989
1915 21 #1,524
1910 5 #1,679
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 5 #1,143
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Franz

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

  1. 1 Franz Kafka Franz Kafka Austrian and Czech writer (1883–1924) 19th century
  2. 2 Franz Joseph I of Austria Franz Joseph I of Austria Emperor of Austria from 1848 to 1916 1830–1916 · 19th century
  3. 3 Franz Beckenbauer Franz Beckenbauer German footballer (1945–2024) Contemporary
  4. 4 Franz Liszt Franz Liszt Hungarian composer and pianist (1811–1886) 19th century
  5. 5 Franz von Papen Franz von Papen German politician (1879–1969) 19th century
  6. 6 Franz Schubert Franz Schubert Austrian composer (1797–1828) 18th century
  7. 7 Franz Reichelt Inventor, Czechia 1879–1912 · 19th century
  8. 8 Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart Son of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791–1844) 18th century
  9. 9 Franz Halder Franz Halder General and chief of staff in Nazi Germany 1884–1972 · 19th century
  10. 10 Franz Stangl Franz Stangl Austrian war criminal (1908–1971) Contemporary
  11. 11 Franz Boas Franz Boas German-born American anthropologist (1858–1942) 19th century
  12. 12 Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein Prince of Liechtenstein from 1938 to 1989 1906–1989 · Contemporary
  13. 13 Franz Mesmer Franz Mesmer German physician (1734–1815) 18th century
  14. 14 Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf Austrian general (1852–1925) 19th century
  15. 15 Franz Marc Franz Marc German artist (1880–1916) 19th century
  16. 16 Franz Xaver Winterhalter Franz Xaver Winterhalter German painter and lithographer (1805–1873) 19th century
  17. 17 Franz Werfel Franz Werfel Czech writer (1890–1945) 19th century
  18. 18 Franz Böhme Military personnel, Austria 1885–1947 · 19th century
  19. 19 Franz Ziereis Franz Ziereis German SS officer (1905–1945) Contemporary
  20. 20 Franz Lehár Franz Lehár Austro-Hungarian composer (1870–1948) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Franz?

The median living Franz is about 49 years old. Half of all living Franzs are between 30 and 63 years old.

How many people named Franz are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Franz are alive in the United States, based on 2,864 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Franz mean?

From German Franz. Doublet of Francis.

How popular is the name Franz in 2025?

Franz ranked #5,459 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Franz?

2,864 babies have been named Franz in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Franz most popular?

Franz peaked in 1963, when 60 newborns received the name.

Is Franz a boy or girl name?

Franz is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Franz rising or falling?

Franz has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Franz?

Well-known people named Franz include Franz Kafka (writer), Franz Joseph I of Austria (politician), Franz Beckenbauer (soccer player).

Names like Franz

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

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