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

Languages: This girl's name is used in Spanish.

Nicknames: Pancha and Kika

Alternative Spellings: Fransisca

Variant Forms: Francisco

Popularity: The name Francisca ranked 542nd 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.