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