Franco

Franco is the abbreviated form of Francesco, the Italian equivalent of Francis, both of which are derived from the Late Latinate Franciscus, a vocabulary word denoting “French” or “Frenchman” which ultimately means “free”. The Franks were an ancient Germanic tribe who eventually morphed into the French people. The name in its various linguistic formations was ultimately popularized by St. Francis of Assisi (whose baptismal name was actually Giovanni). Giovanni was given the nickname Francis by his wealthy Italian father who had business dealings in France and greatly admired the French people. Born at the end of the 12th century, 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 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. This old classic has given way to several forms in various languages including Francesco and Franco (Italian), François (French), Franz (German), Francisco (Spanish) and of course Francis and Frank (English). Today, the name Franco is most popular in the nation of Chili.