← All names

Francesco

Boy name · 50 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Francesco: 50 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 1986.

Francesco, the Italian form of Francis, ultimately derives from the Latin Franciscus, meaning “Frenchman” or “free one” – a name that originally referred to the Frankish people. Its most famous bearer is St Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century friar whose devotion to poverty and nature made him one of Christianity’s most beloved figures; the Californian city of San Francisco takes its name from his memory. In the modern world, Italian football legend Francesco Totti has kept the name in the spotlight. While Francesco is less common in Scotland than its English counterpart, it has a melodic, international appeal and offers the friendly nickname “Checco”. The name also appears in Spanish and Portuguese as Francisco, and it carries a warm, saintly heritage that feels both timeless and approachable.