- Origin: German
- Meaning: “Frankish, free”
- Gender: Masculine
From the name of an ancient Germanic people who ultimately settled in what is now France and the Netherlands, the origin of the name itself is somewhat disputed. A popular etymology is that it comes from the Old German frank (free). Others contend that it comes from a Germanic word for “javelin” or its linked with an Old Germanic root word meaning “bold, fierce; insolent.”
As a given-name, it has been in use since the 8th-century, preceding the use of the name of Francis, of which Frank later became a popular diminutive. The name of the country of France and its old currency of francs, gets its name from the Franks.
Frank was a very popular name in the U.S. at the turn of the 20th-century. Its appeared in the U.S. Top 10 between 1881-1922, peaking at #6 between 1880-1892. As of 2018, it was the 392nd most popular male name. His rankings in other countries are as follows:
- #32 (Sweden, 2018)
- #155 (England & Wales, 2018)
Frank is also used in Estonia, Finland, French-speaking countries, Dutch-speaking countries, German-speaking countries and Scandinavia.
Other forms include:
- Franker (Danish)
- Franck (French)
- Frang (Gaelic, Scandinavian)
- Franko (German)
- Franco (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)
- Francen (Dutch, archaic)
- Vranck (Dutch, archaic)
- Frake (Finnish)
- Frankku, Prankku (Finnish)
- Fränk (Letzbergerisch)
- Vranken (Middle Dutch)
Feminine forms include:
- Franka (Czech, German, Dutch)
- France (French)
- Franca (Italian, Portuguese, Spanish)
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franks
- https://www.behindthename.com/name/frank-1
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank
- http://dmnes.org/name/Frank
- https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Frank
