Francesca
Say it: fran-CHES-ka/fɹænˈt͡ʃɛskə/
GirlMeans frenchwoman9 letters3 syllables
#443
in Ireland (2025)
#435 with spellings combined
8
babies in 2025
#238
best rank (2001)
418
babies since 1972
Down 2
10-year rank change
Francesca through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #435 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 12 | #313 |
| 2022 | 5 | #627 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 15 | #296 |
| 2018 | 12 | #358 |
| 2017 | 5 | #654 |
| 2016 | 13 | #336 |
| 2015 | 10 | #433 |
| 2014 | 7 | #542 |
| 2013 | 17 | #287 |
| 2012 | 9 | #477 |
| 2011 | 9 | #470 |
| 2010 | 14 | #356 |
| 2009 | 9 | #469 |
| 2008 | 8 | #504 |
| 2007 | 10 | #406 |
| 2006 | 7 | #465 |
| 2005 | 16 | #245 |
| 2004 | 6 | #476 |
| 2003 | 12 | #279 |
| 2002 | 11 | #289 |
| 2001 | 14 | #238 |
| 2000 | 5 | #413 |
| 1999 | 9 | #279 |
| 1998 | 3 | #499 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 3 | #534 |
| 1995 | 10 | #296 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1993 | 6 | #385 |
| 1992 | 8 | #339 |
| 1991 | 6 | #393 |
| 1990 | 12 | #268 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1988 | 5 | #407 |
| 1987 | 9 | #329 |
| 1985 | 6 | #386 |
| 1984 | 5 | #414 |
| 1983 | 7 | #365 |
| 1982 | 9 | #333 |
| 1981 | 13 | #287 |
| 1980 | 6 | #401 |
| 1979 | 5 | #420 |
| 1978 | 3 | #522 |
| 1976 | 8 | #329 |
| 1972 | 3 | #471 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Francesca mean?
Frenchwoman
Italian, the feminine of Francesco, from Latin Franciscus (French).
Say it right
franCHESka
Some people say it with an "s" sound, fran-SES-ka.
The story of Francesca
Francesca is the Italian feminine of Francesco, which comes from the Latin Franciscus, meaning French or a Frenchman. It is the same source that gives English the names Frances and Francis. It is used across the Romance languages, but it is most at home in Italy.
English speakers say it two ways, with a “ch” sound as in Italian or with a plain “s”.
Francesca first reached the Irish list in 1972. It has been a steady, small name ever since rather than a fashionable one. Its best rank was number 238 in 2001, and its biggest year was 2013, when 17 girls were named Francesca. It is used at about the same level in Northern Ireland, where 8 girls were given the name in 2025, the same number as in the Republic.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Francesca (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Francesca
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Francesca | 8 | 418 |
In Northern Ireland
#205 in 2025 with 8 babies. Best rank #155 (1998); 181 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.