Meaning: Its source is an Ancient Germanic expression meaning "French person."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English and Italian.

Alternative Spellings: Franchesca

Variant Forms: Franca and Franciska

Non-English Forms: Francziska and Franciszka

Popularity: The name Francesca ranked 397th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 966th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: The Franks, a Germanic tribe that conquered the territory now known as France in the 6th century, most likely derived their name from their favorite weapon, a type of spear called a franca. The right to carry that weapon may have indicated full membership in the tribe.

They also might have considered this the privilege of a ''free man,'' and this is yet another interpretation of the name.