Franz is of German origin and means "free, bold, or ready". It is composed of the elements "fr," meaning "power" or "ruler," and "-anz," which is derived from the Proto-Germanic element "-ingos," signifying "kin" or "member of a tribe." This name was borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Franz Kafka, the renowned Czech novelist known for his existential short stories and novellas such as "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial". Additionally, composer Franz Schubert was an influential figure in romantic music, famous for works like his song cycles "Die Winterreise" and "Schwanengesang." Other notable individuals named Franz include Franz Liszt, a Hungarian piano virtuoso and composer of the Romantic era, and Franz Ferdinand d'Este, whose assassination catalyzed World War I.
These statistics show a wide range of births named Franz over the years, with significant fluctuations. The name's popularity seems to have peaked around the early to mid-20th century, particularly during World War I and II, when there were notably higher numbers of births (e.g., 34 in 1916, 22 in 1927, 31 in 1936). However, since the 1980s, the number of Franz births has generally been on a downward trend, with fewer than 25 births per year recorded in most recent years. The total number of Franz births from 1889 to 2023 is 2828.