Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Franklin
BoyEnglish· “free landholder”
- Meaning
- free landholder
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- FRANG-klihn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #359
- US babies 2025
- 909
- Best rank
- #33 (1933)
- Peak year
- 1933
Meaning and origin of Franklin
Franklin is an English name that means “free landholder”.
Franklin comes from a Middle English word for a free landowner who was not of noble birth, a class of prosperous country gentlemen in medieval England. The word itself descends from a root meaning free, the same one found in frank. Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales includes a pilgrim known simply as the Franklin. The name gained lasting American associations through Benjamin Franklin and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As a first name it feels distinguished and a little vintage, with a warm, approachable side. Frank and Finn are both easy nicknames, and the full name suits almost any sibling set.
Other spellings with the same sound: Franklyn.
Popularity over time
Franklin has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #33 in 1933, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,363 babies. In 2025, 909 babies were named Franklin, and it ranked #359 nationally. That is 32% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #119 in 1920, #153 in 1950, #253 in 1980, #448 in 2000, #505 in 2010, and #359 in 2025. Of the 141,728 US boys named Franklin since records began, 19% were born in the 1930s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 19,312 babies. Since 2010, 11,158 more have been named Franklin.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Jimmie and Billy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Franklin ranked highest in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Oregon.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | #157 | 9 |
| Wisconsin | #194 | 32 |
| Oregon | #203 | 21 |
| Minnesota | #205 | 32 |
| Tennessee | #233 | 38 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Franklin over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Franklin is usually pronounced FRANG-klihn, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with F and ends in “-in”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Franklyn.
Middle names for Franklin
A few middle names that flow with Franklin: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Franklin
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Lists that include Franklin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Franklin mean?
Franklin is an English name that means “free landholder”.
What is the origin of the name Franklin?
Franklin has English roots. Franklin comes from a Middle English word for a free landowner who was not of noble birth, a class of prosperous country gentlemen in medieval England.
Is Franklin a popular name?
Yes. Franklin ranked #359 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Franklin a boy or girl name?
Franklin is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Franklin over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Franklin?
Franklin is usually pronounced FRANG-klihn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings