Francis

Francis is an English and Latin given name derived from the Medieval Latin Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman" or "free man," originally used to denote someone from Francia or of Frankish origin. The name gained widespread use throughout Christian Europe largely through the influence of Saint Francis of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian friar and founder of the Franciscan order. It has long been popular in Catholic communities and was notably borne by Francis of Sales, Francis Xavier, and numerous European monarchs. Related forms include Frances (the feminine English variant), François in French, Francisco in Spanish and Portuguese, and Francesco in Italian.