What does Francesca mean?
Francesca means “free one” or “from France,” the feminine of Francesco.
What does Serena mean?
Serena comes from the Latin for “serene” or “calm.”
Francesca vs Serena
Which is more popular?
Francesca is more popular than Serena today: about 984 US babies were given the name Francesca in 2025, compared with 942 named Serena.
| Francesca | Serena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Free one | Serene, calm |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | fran-CHES-kah | seh-REH-nah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1895 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (984) | 2000 (1,504) |
| In 2025 | 984 | 942 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Francesca
Serena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Francesca | Serena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5,015 | 5,054 |
| 2010s | 6,875 | 7,331 |
| 2000s | 7,019 | 10,634 |
| 1990s | 6,909 | 8,444 |
| 1980s | 4,095 | 5,263 |
| 1970s | 2,250 | 4,844 |
| 1960s | 1,380 | 2,568 |
| 1950s | 989 | 1,055 |
| 1940s | 297 | 595 |
| 1930s | 108 | 354 |
| 1920s | 171 | 406 |
| 1910s | 168 | 359 |
| 1900s | 42 | 218 |
| 1890s | 13 | 184 |
| 1880s | 0 | 141 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Francesca or Serena more popular?
Francesca is more popular than Serena today: about 984 US babies were given the name Francesca in 2025, compared with 942 named Serena.
What is the difference between Francesca and Serena?
Francesca means Free one (Italian origin), while Serena means Serene, calm (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Francesca or Serena?
In US records, Francesca first appears in 1895 and Serena in 1880, so Serena has the longer recorded history.