Is Franklin a Girl‘s Name? Exploring the Origins and Trends of This Surname-Turned-First Name
The name Franklin conjures up images of kites and bifocals thanks to one ultra-famous bearer, Benjamin Franklin. But would parents today consider Franklin for their daughters? This traditionally masculine name has seen some fresh interest from parents seeking gender-neutral names with rich histories.
Let‘s dive into the background, statistics, and trends around whether Franklin could work for the girls!
Franklin‘s Meaning and Origins
Franklin has Old English roots as a status name referring to a "free landowner of free but not noble birth." It comes from the Middle English "frankeleyn." The core meaning of Franklin relates to freedom, self-determination, and ownership of land and property.
The name has origins as a Norman French surname, derived from the word "franc," meaning free, and the Old French "fraunclein," or landowner. So Franklin has long evoked uplifting concepts like liberty and independence.
Despite these positive associations, Franklin never appears in the Bible. Biblical names usually stem from Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic. As a medieval English surname, Franklin falls outside scriptural roots.
Franklin‘s Popularity Over Time for Boys and Girls
As a boy‘s name, Franklin has a long history of popularity in the United States. It ranked in the top 100 from 1880 to 1936, peaking at #82 in 1883.
Franklin‘s high point aligned with the lifespan and prominence of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, who shaped America‘s early government and identity. The below graph shows Franklin‘s popularity curve for boys since 1880:
For girls, Franklin has barely made a blip on the naming radar. In 2020, it ranked #4,936 for girls, with just 24 baby girls named Franklin. Compare that to 257 male Franklins born in the U.S., where the name holds steady around #450-500.
The below charts contrast the stark differences between Franklin‘s usage for boys and girls:
| Year | Rank for Boys | Rank for Girls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #482 | #4,936 |
| 2019 | #497 | #5,352 |
| 2018 | #455 | #5,407 |
| 2017 | #421 | #5,156 |
| 2016 | #427 | #5,991 |
Indeed, Franklin has been an exclusively male name for over a century of U.S. naming data. Only in the last 5 years has it even entered the top 5,000 girl‘s names, indicating some fresh interest after generations of masculinity.
Across the pond in the UK, Franklin charts at #632 for boys but falls outside the top 5,000 for girls in 2020. So trends remain markedly more boy-centric in British naming as well. Australia and Canada show similar male-dominated usage.
Why Did Franklin Fall Out of Favor for Boys?
Franklin‘s descent from a top 100 name aligns historically with the decline of early American ideals and values that Benjamin Franklin epitomized. By the mid-20th century, Franklin likely felt dated and stale to parents.
The World Wars and Great Depression shook America‘s confidence and optimism. And Franklin‘s sound felt fusty compared to trendy mid-century boy names like James, Michael, and David.
While never vanishing completely, Franklin faded to an unfashionable grandpa name by the late 1900s. It may still feel outdated or unattractive as a boy‘s name to some parents today.
Is Franklin Gaining Traction for Girls?
Despite generations as a boys-only name, Franklin is attracting some interest from progressive parents seeking fresh, gender-neutral options for girls.
Name experts spot trends toward using surnames and unisex nicknames like Frankie as unconventional female names. But is Franklin too clunky and masculine to crossover?
"Surname names like Franklin clearly work better for boys," says Pamela Redmond of Nameberry. "But Frankie feels spunky and feminine, and could lend girls‘ appeal. Still, I predict Franklin will stay rare for girls due to the overtly male image."
Indeed, trailblazing parents have more popularity with feminizing variants like Frankie, which ranks #349 for girls. Frances and Francesca also provide softer spin-offs of Franklin for daughters.
But other surnames like Mackenzie, Madison, and Kennedy have successfully jumped the gender line, so never say never!
Similar Sounds and Styles That Work for Girls
If the surname vibe of Franklin intrigues you, names with similar sounds and styles are gaining traction for girls:
- Harlow (#284)
- Marlowe (#506)
- Monroe (#99)
- Winslow (#1,928)
- Emerson (#127)
- Madison (#23)
- Addison (#40)
Several occupational surnames and word names carrying "free" meanings have also moved to the girls‘ column:
- Liberty (#559)
- Harbour (#1,915)
- Freeman (#2,777)
- Justice (#368)
- Loyal (#3,682)
So while trailblazing with a highly masculine name like Franklin remains rare, its style and meaning aren‘t totally off-limits for girls in the current naming climate.
Is Franklin Evolving as a Unisex Name?
Overall, it‘s safe to assume Franklin will remain uncommon and avant-garde for girls. But looking globally provides clues on this name‘s evolution:
- In progressive Germany, Franklin charts for both sexes, ranking #85 for boys and #281 for girls
- Australia also shows emerging usage for girls, with Franklin at #512 for girls versus #356 for boys in 2020
- In Quebec, the French spelling "Franckline" (#200) charts solely on the girls‘ side
With long history as a boys‘ name, Franklin won‘t transform into a predominantly feminine name overnight. But adoption by trailblazing parents and cross-cultural shifts provide hints of this name‘s fluidity on the gender spectrum long-term.
Pop Culture and Celebrity Influence
Pop culture can accelerate name trends across genders. Franklin has appeared as a charming turtle character in kids‘ books since 1986. And in GTA5, players control Franklin Clinton on his adventures through Los Santos.
Currently, Franklin gets more hipster edge from Jonah Hill‘s character Franklin "Frank" Feldman in the 2016 comedy War Dogs. Actor Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds also have a daughter named James, hinting at openness to boys‘ names for girls.
As more celebrities and influencers experiment with unconventional name choices for daughters, crossover names like Franklin may gradually gain momentum. But the public image undoubtedly remains heavily male-skewed at this point.
The Takeaway: Franklin for Girls?
At the moment, Franklin for girls qualifies as a daring and avant-garde choice. The male-dominated history and public image of Franklin still discourage most parents from crossing the gender line.
But the possibility of the nickname Frankie, parallels to similar-sounding unisex names, and the cool meaning of "free landowner" offer persuasion for trailblazing mamas.
And as naming culture evolves to shrug off gender constrictions, don‘t be surprised if Franklin pops up more often in the girls‘ column in decades to come! The surname style, links to "freedom," and flex appeal of Frankie lend this name feminine potential.
