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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Franklin — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Frankie|Frankly
English◈ Unisex · 62% boy · 38% girl→ Stable

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Franklin

◈

FRANK-lin · 2 syllables

Share Franklin:
Compare with another name
Boy
#385
→ Stable
Boy
#385
Popularity score: 40
→ Stable
Peak
#385 in 2024
5yr
+25 ranks
Velocity
+25
Birth frequency
2.3 per 10,000 births
Girl
#8080
Popularity score: 9
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#8080 in 2024
5yr
+5919 ranks
Velocity
+5919
Birth frequency
3.6 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #385 · Rising since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Franklin

Popularity score: 40  ·  SSA Rank: #385

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #8080 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Franklin

Popularity score: 9  ·  SSA Rank: #8080

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
69
Higher than 69% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
+25 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
85
1 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Franklin scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
87
Name Trend28% of score
44
Uniqueness20% of score
85
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
EnglishClassicOccupational surnameUnisex2-syllableHistoricalPresidentialFreedom-derived
Character
independent-mindedprincipled leadership
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Franklins

principledresilientpragmaticrigorouspioneering
STRONG
High confidence

Franklin is an English unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #385 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable · +25 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#385 · niche
Franklin at a Glance
Meaning:A medieval English occupational surname meaning 'free man' or 'landowner of free status,' derived from the Old English 'franca' (frank/free) and the suffix '-lin' (diminutive).
Language root:Old English · Middle English
Peak rank:#385 in 2024
5yr change:+25 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #385 · Girl #8080
Notable bearers
Franklin D. Roosevelt
32nd U.S. President
Franklin Pierce
14th U.S. President
Similar Sound
FranklynFrankie◈FrederickFernandoFrancis◈
Similar Style
HarrisonOliverEmerson◈JeffersonAugustus
Works well with
EleanorHenryGraceTheodoreVioletChesterMargaretSamuel
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Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Franklin illustration
Name Intelligence
Franklin · Overview
Summary

Franklin is an English unisex name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #385 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 29/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Franklin scores 69/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Works for any sex
62% boy · 38% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Classic · Strong character
Franklin carries a grounded, warm quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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