Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Francisco

Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of the male name Francis, which is the English equivalent of the Late Latinate Franciscus, a vocabulary word denoting ‘French’ or ‘Frenchman.’ This was a nickname given to St. Francis of Assisi (whose baptismal name was actually Giovanni) because of his wealthy father’s business connections in France and his general admiration of the French people. St. Francis had a pleasant, happy childhood, but as a young man, a couple of bad experiences caused him to turn away from the material world and devote himself to the poor and sick. After he was joined by a few disciples, these so-called Franciscans dedicated themselves to humility, poverty and the love for all living creatures. St. Francis (or San Francisco to the Spanish) is often depicted surrounded by animals, particularly birds. It’s no surprise that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment, but he is also the patron saint of Italy. Thanks to the cult that grew up around St. Francis, the name spread in the 14th century and became even more popular during the Italian Renaissance of the 16th century. Apparently, the Spanish sometimes shorten Francisco to Paco, while the Portuguese use Chico as a pet form. In Latin America, where Francisco is also popular, the nickname Pancho is sometimes used. That makes the Spanish/Portuguese version of this name quite flexible in terms of charming nicknames and pet forms. According to 2007 data, Francisco was the 40th most popular boy’s name in Spain. The name is also quite popular throughout Latin America and Mexico.

All About the Baby Name – Francisco

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME FRANCISCO

The number Seven personality is deeply mystical and highly in tune with their spirituality. They operate on a different wavelength than the average joe. Spending time alone comes easily to Sevens, as it gives them time to contemplate philosophical, religious and spiritual ideas in an effort to find "real truth".  Sevens are wise, but often exude mystery as if they are tapped into something the rest of us don't understand. They love the outdoors and are fed by nature. Sevens are constantly seeking to understand human nature, our place in the universe, and the mystery of life in general. This makes them quite artistic and poetic, but they are also keen observers with high intellect - so they are equally scientific-minded. Sevens are charitable and care deeply about the human condition.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME FRANCISCO

Francisco has been slowly climbing the U.S. popularity charts right along with the growing Hispanic/Latino population in America. The name almost hit the Top 100 list of most commonly used boy names in the early 1990s, but couldn’t quite manage. Since then, the name has experienced some backwards momentum. Francisco is, however, currently a Top 100 in the states of California and Arizona (states with a high concentration of Latinos and Hispanics). Also, since California is riddled with Spanish history and its most prominent city is named San Francisco, we’re not surprised to see Francisco as a top choice for boys there. In fact, in America today, Francisco is more popular than its English counterpart Francis. Francisco is a poetic rendering of the English Francis thanks to the romance language from whence it came. And we just adore the possible nicknames and pet forms of Francisco: Paco, Pancho and Chico.

Quick Facts

ON FRANCISCO

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Spanish

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

3

RANKING POPULARITY:

218

PRONUNCIATION:

frahn-SEES-ko

SIMPLE MEANING:

Frenchman

Characteristics

OF FRANCISCO

Mystical

Wise

Eccentric

Intuitive

Imaginative

Philosophical

Solitary

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Francisco

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME FRANCISCO

Francisco is one of the protagonists in Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel, Atlas Shrugged. The description of him is over the top – he is gorgeous, funny, intelligent, successful, witty, charming and stinking rich. On top of that, he has principles that shame the rest of us: He is willing to sacrifice the source of the family fortunes, d’Anconia Copper, in order to thwart the forces of nihilistic evil. He denounces his love for Dagny Taggart, knowing she is unable to support the strike he is dedicated to. He masks his true intentions in order to further his cause by adopting the persona of a vacuous playboy. He protects and defends Hank Reardon and ultimately saves his life, even though Reardon is with Dagny, the only woman he ever loved. Lest you think all this might set him up for a fall – not to worry. The strike is successful, and he is revealed as his true self for all to admire. In other words, he is an Ayn Rand character.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME FRANCISCO

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Francisco


Popular Songs

ON FRANCISCO

San Francisco Mabel Joy
a song by Waylon Jennings

San Francisco Town
a song by Buck Owens

San Francisco Serenade
a song by Bad Astronaut

San Francisco Nights
a song by The Animals

San Francisco Days
a song by Chris Isaak

San Francisco Bay Blues
a song by Peter, Paul & Mary

San Francisco (You've Got Me)
a song by the Village People

San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
a song by Scott McKenzie

San Francisco
a song by Brian Wilson

Our Lady of San Francisco
a song by Cher

I Left My Heart in San Francisco
a song by Frank Sinatra

Famous People

NAMED FRANCISCO

Francisco Pizarro (Spanish conquistador)
Francisco Goya (artist)
Francisco Coronado (explorer)
Francisco Liriano (baseball player)
Francisco Marto (Fatima visionary)
Francisco Rodríguez (baseball player)
San Francisco (13th century saint)

Children of Famous People

NAMED FRANCISCO

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Francisco

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME FRANCISCO

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Francisco