Franklin

Franklin - A very unique male name

Franklin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #184. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Franklin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Franklin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Franklin. The baby boy name Franklin was given to 878 baby boys in 2025, ranking #360 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,670 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Franklin peaked in popularity 93 years ago in 1933 on position 33.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Franklin, 1-5?

Franklin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Franklin is currently topping the baby name charts in South Dakota at position #157 - and is the least popular in Louisiana at position #820.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Franklin is where you live.

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Franklin origin and meaning

English, transferred surname (status name)

'Franklin — a free landholder' — from Middle English frankelein, a landowner of free but not noble rank

Franklin began as a status surname for a franklin, a substantial free landholder below the nobility in medieval England. It has been in US data since 1910 and peaked in 1933, in the Roosevelt era. It is rising in the vintage revival, up from #424 in 2020 to #360.

Attested etymology

Franklin is a 8 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Franklin, pop culture references for the name Franklin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Franklin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Franklin, sorted by popularity.

Frank / Francis / Francisco / Frankie / Franco / Francesco / Franklyn / Fransisco / Frances / Franky /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Franklin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Franklin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Franklin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

FRANK-lin · /ˈfræŋklɪn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Franklyn — Y respelling

Nicknames: FrankFrankie

Famous bearers

• Franklin D. Roosevelt — 32nd President of the United States; Franklin was his given name (1882–1945) Historical
• Franklin Graham — Evangelist; born William Franklin Graham III and known as Franklin Graham (b. 1952) Contemporary

Style

ClassicSurname

Why parents choose it

Franklin is a dignified, presidential vintage name that has been quietly climbing as grandparent names return.

Worth knowing

• Benjamin Franklin carries it as a surname, so bearers will field the assumption — the Roosevelt given name is the counterweight.