Paco is a Spanish nickname for Francisco. According to folk etymology, the nickname has its origins in Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the father of the Franciscan order; his name was written in Latin by the order as pater communitatis (father of the community); hence "Paco" was supposedly obtained by taking the first syllable of each word.^[1]

People with the nickname Paco include:

• Paco Alcácer (born 1993), Spanish footballer
• Paco Arespacochaga (born 1971), Portuguese singer
• Paco Cabanes Pastor (1954–2021), Valencian pilota player
• Paco Calderón (born 1959), Mexican political cartoonist
• Paco Camino (1940–2024), Spanish bullfighter
• Paco Craig (born 1965), American football player
• Paco Craig (born 1992), English footballer
• Paco de Lucía (1947–2014), Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer
• Paco Decina (born 1955), Italian choreographer
• Francisco Estévez (born 1945), Spanish composer
• Paco Estrada (born 1980), American musician
• Francisco Gento (born 1933), Spanish footballer
• Paco Godia (1921–1990), Spanish racing driver
• Paco González (born 1966), Spanish sport journalist
• Paco Herrera (born 1953), Spanish footballer
• Paco Ibáñez (born 1934), Spanish singer
• Paco Jamandreu (1925–1995), Argentine fashion designer and actor
• Paco Jémez (born 1970), Spanish footballer
• Paco León (born 1974), Spanish actor
• Francisco Llorente Gento (born 1965), Spanish retired footballer
• Paco López (footballer) (born 1967), Spanish football manager and former player
• Francisco Marhuenda (born 1961), Spanish journalist, professor and former politician
• Paco Moncayo (born 1940), mayor of Quito, Ecuador
• Paco Peña (born 1942), Spanish flamenco guitarist
• Paco Rabanne (1934–2023), Spanish fashion designer
• Paco Rodriguez (born 1991), American baseball player
• Pape Demba "Paco" Samb, Senegalese-American griot
• Paco Stanley (1942–1999), Mexican television entertainer and politician
• Paco Ignacio Taibo I (1924–2008), Spanish/Mexican writer and journalist
• Paco Ignacio Taibo II (born 1949), Spanish/Mexican writer, academic and politician
• Paco Tous (born 1964), Spanish actor

• Pancho
• Patxi