Franco is a common surname in Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Sephardic Jewish communities deriving from the word "Frank", in reference to the Germanic tribe of the Franks, who invaded Gaul during the Migration Period.[1] It is also commonly used as a given name in Italian.
Arts
- Ani DiFranco, American musician
- Buddy DeFranco, American jazz clarinetist
- Daniel Franco, Los Angeles fashion designer
- Diana Franco, Colombian actress
- Eva Franco (1906–1999), Argentine actress
- Fulvia Franco, Italian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder
- Giacomo Franco, Italian etcher and publisher
- Hernando Franco, Spanish composer
- James Franco, Dave Franco, and Tom Franco, American actors
- Jesús Franco and Ricardo Franco, Spanish directors and brothers
- José Franco (poet), Panamanian poet
- Larry J. Franco, American film producer
- Pippo Franco, Italian actor, comedian, television presenter and singer
- Tony DeFranco, Canadian musician
Politics
- El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American politician
- Federico Franco, former president of Paraguay
- Francisco Franco, Spanish general, dictator and head of state, “caudillo” of the Government
- Gustavo Franco, Brazilian central banker
- Itamar Franco, former president of Brazil
- João Franco, prime minister of Portugal
- Julio César Franco, former vice president of Paraguay
- Manuel Franco, former president of Paraguay
- Rafael Franco, former president of Paraguay
- Vasili Franco (born 1992), German politician
Sports
- Alan Franco (footballer, born 1996), Argentine centre-back
- Daniel Franco (Brazilian footballer) (born 1971), Brazilian manager and former left-back
- Daniel Franco (Argentine footballer) (born 1991), Argentine centre-back
- Danny Franco (born 1973), Israeli basketball coach in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Darío Franco (born 1969), Argentine football manager
- Eduardo Franco Raymundo (1934–1996), Spanish chess master
- Felipe Franco (born 1982), Brazilian water polo player
- Francisco Di Franco (born 1995), Argentine footballer
- Godwin Franco (born 1985), Indian footballer
- Guillermo Franco (born 1976), Argentine-Mexican footballer
- Guillermo Franco (footballer, born 1983), Argentine defender
- John Franco (born 1960), American baseball pitcher
- Julio Franco (born 1958), baseball player from the Dominican Republic
- Leo Franco (born 1977), Argentine footballer
- Leryn Franco (born 1982), Paraguayan javelin thrower and model
- Maikel Franco (born 1992), Dominican baseball player
- Manuel Franco (jockey) (born 1994), Puerto Rican professional jockey
- Matt Franco (born 1969), American baseball player
- Nicolás Franco (footballer) (born 1996), Argentine centre-forward
- Wander Franco (born 2001), Dominican baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays
Others
- Franklin Franco (1936–2013), historian and academic from the Dominican Republic
- Julio Franco Arango (1914–1980), Colombian Roman Catholic bishop
- Luis Franco (writer) (1898–1988), Argentine writer, essayist and poet
- Marielle Franco, also known as Marielle Da Silva, (1979–2018), Brazilian activist
- Ramón Franco (1896–1938), pioneer aviator and brother of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
- Salvador Franco (died 3 January 2021), Venezuelan detainee
- Veronica Franco (1546–1591), Venetian courtesan and poet
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- Franco Balbi (born 1989), Argentine basketball player
- Franco Baldassarra (born 1998), Argentine footballer
- Franco Baresi, Italian footballer
- Franco Battiato, Italian singer and songwriter
- Franco Bechtholdt (born 1993), Argentine-Chilean footballer
- Franco Bellocq (born 1993), Argentine footballer
- Franco Benítez (born 1991), Argentine footballer
- Franco Bolignari (1928–2020), Italian singer
- Franco Bonera, Italian motorcycle racer
- Franco Brarda (born 1993), Argentine rugby union player
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- Franco Calderón (born 1998), Argentine footballer
- Franco Calero (born 1989), Argentine footballer
- Franco Canever (born 1989), Argentine footballer
- Franco Cángele (born 1984), Argentine footballer
- Franco Carboni (born 2003), Argentine footballer
- Franco Carraro, Italian sports director
- Franco Castellano (born 1957), Italian actor-producer and film director
- Franco Causio, Italian footballer
- Franco Cervi (born 1994), Argentine footballer
- Franco Chiviló (born 1991), Argentine footballer
- Franco Citti, Italian actor
- Franco Colapinto (born 2003), Argentine racing driver
- Franco Columbu, Italian bodybuilder
- Franco Corelli, Italian tenor
- Franco Coria (born 1988), Argentine footballer
- Franco Costa (footballer) (born 1991), Argentine footballer
- Franco Costa (painter) (1935–2015), Italian painter
- Franco Costanzo (born 1980), Argentine footballer
- Franco Cozzo, Australian entrepreneur
- Franco Cristaldi, Italian film producer
- Franco Cristaldo (born 1996), Argentine footballer
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- E
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- Franco Fabrizi, Italian actor
- Franco Fagioli (born 1981), Argentine operatic countertenor
- Franco Faría (born 1995), Argentine footballer
- Franco Ferrara, Italian conductor
- Franco Ferrari (footballer, born 1987), Peruvian midfielder
- Franco Ferrari (footballer, born 1992), Argentine defender
- Franco Ferrari (footballer, born 1995), Argentine forward
- Franco Flores (footballer, born 1987), Argentine defender
- Franco Flores (footballer, born 1993), Argentine defender
- Franco Foschi, Italian politician
- Franco Fragapane (born 1993), Argentine footballer
- Franco Fraticelli, Italian film editor
- Franco Frattini, Italian politician
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- I
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- L
- Franco Lazzaroni (born 1988), Argentine footballer
- Franco Ledesma (born 1992), Argentine footballer
- Franco Leoni, Italian opera composer
- Franco Leys (born 1993), Argentine footballer
- Franco Lo Cascio (born 1946), birth name of Luca Damiano, Italian film director
- Franco López (born 1998), Argentine footballer
- Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician
- Franco Lucentini, Italian writer
- Franco Luciani (born 1981), Argentine musician
- M
- Franco Macri (1930–2019), Italian-Argentine contractor
- Franco Malagueño (born 1998), Argentine footballer
- Franco Malerba, Italian astronaut
- Franco Marini, Italian politician
- Franco Mazurek (born 1993), Argentine footballer
- Franco Mendoza (born 1981), Argentine footballer
- Franco Miranda (born 1985), Argentine footballer
- Franco Modigliani, Italian-American economist
- Franco Modugno, Italian law professor and judge
- Franco Morales (born 1992), Chilean basketball player
- Franco Moretti, Italian scholar
- Franco Moschino, Italian fashion designer
- Franco Moyano (born 1997), Argentine footballer
- Franco Mussis (born 1992), Argentine footballer
- Franco Musso (born 1974), Argentine photographer
- N
- O
- P
- Franco Pardo (born 1997), Argentine footballer
- Franco Paredes (born 1999), Argentine footballer
- Franco Pellizotti, Italian cyclist
- Franco Peppino (born 1982), Argentine retired footballer
- Franco Pérez (footballer, born 1996), Argentine forward
- Franco Pérez (footballer, born 1998), Argentine forward
- Franco Pérez (footballer, born 2001), Uruguayan forward
- Franco Perinciolo (born 1997), Argentine footballer
- Franco Pizzicanella (born 1996), Argentine footballer
- Franco Purini (born 1941), Italian architect
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- R
- S
- Franco Sacchetti, Italian poet
- Franco Sar (1933–2018), Italian decathlete
- Franco Sbuttoni (born 1989), Argentine footballer
- Franco Scaglione, Italian automobile designer
- Franco Selvaggi, Italian footballer
- Franco Semioli, Italian footballer
- Franco Simon (born 1974), Indian singer and music composer
- Franco Sivetti (born 1998), Argentine footballer
- Franco Soldano (born 1994), Argentine footballer
- Franco Sosa (footballer, born 1981), Argentine defender
- Franco Sosa (footballer, born 1983), Uruguayan midfielder
- Franco Sosa (footballer, born 1995), Argentine forward
- Franco Sosa (footballer, born 1999), Argentine forward
- Franco Squillari (born 1975), Argentine retired tennis player
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