Francis vs Io
Francis and Iocompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2018, Francis was ranked #238 and Io #4749 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Francis was ranked #2574 and Io #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Francis and Io over time
Francis and Io appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Francis held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Io in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Io reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Francis in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 2013–2024
Francis held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Io in 3.
Highest recorded here: Francis #1863 in 2023, Io #2711 in 2021.
The order changed in 2022: Francis moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #4634 and #2711; by 2022 that had become #2488 and #4645.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #2574, Io #4192.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Francis
Pairs where Francis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #309.
Daniel · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #309.
Thomas · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Adrian vs Francis
Adrian and Francis changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #348 and #309.
Adrian · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Francis vs Noel
Francis and Noel changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #309 and #402.
Francis · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Francis | Io |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4192 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Francis has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Io.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
How each name got here
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Io
Popularity journey
First recorded2003
First recorded at #4373 among girls in England and Wales in 2003 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2003–2024
Highest recorded position: #2711 among girls in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 2003–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls