Frank in Irish: Proinsias
The Irish form of Frank is Proinsias, a boy's name meaning “little Frenchman.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Proinsias
- Meaning
- Little Frenchman
- Gender
- Boy
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 286 for boys (2025)
How do you say Frank in Irish?
Frank in Irish is Proinsias, pronounced PRON-she-iss. It has three syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Proinsias mean?
Proinsias means “little Frenchman.” Frank is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Proinsias: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Frank in Ireland?
In 2025, 15 baby boys in Ireland were named Frank, which made it No. 286 that year. That's down from No. 228 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1966, when 14 baby boys were named Frank, No. 139 that year. The most babies got the name in 2016: 33. The records go back to 1964, when 9 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | No. 286 |
| 2024 | 16 | No. 267 |
| 2023 | 16 | No. 268 |
| 2022 | 14 | No. 306 |
| 2021 | 29 | No. 182 |
| 2020 | 18 | No. 261 |
| 2019 | 24 | No. 214 |
| 2018 | 19 | No. 257 |
| 2017 | 29 | No. 197 |
| 2016 | 33 | No. 177 |
| 2015 | 24 | No. 228 |
| 2014 | 18 | No. 267 |
| 2013 | 18 | No. 271 |
| 2012 | 23 | No. 240 |
| 2011 | 24 | No. 225 |
| 2010 | 25 | No. 220 |
| 2009 | 16 | No. 283 |
| 2008 | 24 | No. 219 |
| 2007 | 15 | No. 253 |
| 2006 | 13 | No. 257 |
| 2005 | 22 | No. 181 |
| 2004 | 9 | No. 283 |
| 2003 | 16 | No. 187 |
| 2002 | 17 | No. 185 |
| 2001 | 19 | No. 165 |
| 2000 | 11 | No. 206 |
| 1999 | 15 | No. 180 |
| 1998 | 11 | No. 193 |
| 1997 | 19 | No. 162 |
| 1996 | 7 | No. 261 |
| 1995 | 12 | No. 198 |
| 1994 | 11 | No. 192 |
| 1993 | 9 | No. 213 |
| 1992 | 12 | No. 192 |
| 1991 | 10 | No. 201 |
| 1990 | 13 | No. 183 |
| 1989 | 19 | No. 154 |
| 1988 | 8 | No. 207 |
| 1987 | 20 | No. 152 |
| 1986 | 16 | No. 165 |
| 1985 | 16 | No. 163 |
| 1984 | 11 | No. 192 |
| 1983 | 11 | No. 198 |
| 1982 | 16 | No. 169 |
| 1981 | 11 | No. 202 |
| 1980 | 14 | No. 191 |
| 1979 | 16 | No. 172 |
| 1978 | 6 | No. 242 |
| 1977 | 13 | No. 184 |
| 1976 | 19 | No. 164 |
| 1975 | 17 | No. 168 |
| 1974 | 16 | No. 173 |
| 1973 | 17 | No. 169 |
| 1972 | 14 | No. 180 |
| 1971 | 14 | No. 174 |
| 1970 | 9 | No. 197 |
| 1969 | 13 | No. 163 |
| 1968 | 6 | No. 207 |
| 1967 | 15 | No. 142 |
| 1966 | 14 | No. 139 |
| 1965 | 5 | No. 207 |
| 1964 | 9 | No. 164 |
Proinsias in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Proinsias, letter by letter.
- PPeith
- RRuis, elder
- OOnn, gorse
- IIodhadh, yew
- NNion, ash
- SSail, willow
- IIodhadh, yew
- AAilm, pine
- SSail, willow
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Frank
Questions about Frank
- What is Frank in Irish?
- The Irish form of Frank is Proinsias, pronounced PRON-she-iss. Proinsias means “little Frenchman.”
- How do you pronounce Proinsias?
- Proinsias is pronounced PRON-she-iss. Three syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- Is Frank a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Frank is a boy's name.
- How popular is Frank in Ireland?
- In 2025, Frank was No. 286 for boys in Ireland, with 15 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1966, at No. 139.