Franklin: Meaning, origin and popularity

Pronounced FRANG-klin · 2 syllables

Franklin means “freeholder”, from English.

From Middle English frankelein (“freeholder”), see franklin. The place names are mostly named after American statesman Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790).

How popular is Franklin?

Franklin was the #359 name in the US in 2025, given to 909 babies. It’s rising: up 41% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1930.

Babies named Franklin in the US by five-year period, relative to its peak (around 1930).

Half of US adults named Franklin are older than 60; most are between 23 and 88. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)

Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.

Franklin means “freeholder”. It comes from English.

Franklin is pronounced FRANG-klin.

Franklin was the #359 name in the US in 2025, given to 909 babies. It’s rising: up 41% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1930.

Half of US adults named Franklin are older than 60. Most are between 23 and 88.