Correction for a name in the article: it's Patxi (and not Paxti). Pronounced "Pachi" as in "Pachinko".
It's the diminutive or familiar version for Frantzisko, Francisco or even François.
It's the diminutive or familiar version for Frantzisko, Francisco or even François.
> 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.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco has the same description, and comments that it's similar to how José is "Pepe" through "P(ater) P(utativus)", the husband of Mary, the father of Jesus. It then adds "[cita requerida]" to that description.
https://spanish.stackexchange.com/questions/17631/why-is-pac... mentions that one, and adds another possibility; writing "Phranciscus (the latinised version of Francisco de Asís's nickname) as Ph.co in signs and inscriptions", thus becoming "Paco", "Pacho", and "Pancho".
That cites http://www.alsurdelafrontera.es/2015/02/como-se-llega-de-fra... which cites Diccionario del origen de las palabras by Alberto Buitrago and J. Agustín Torijano.
http://spanishlinguist.us/2013/03/pepe-and-paco-2-mysterious... says Real Academia España says Pepe comes from Beppe and there is no support for the "pater comunitatis" origin for Paco.
There is much discussion in the comments.
There, the equivalent for Francisco is Frantzisko, although I think is way less commonly used. I almost always hear Patxi, even in formal settings. For example, a former President of the Basque Government (the Lehendakari), and also former President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, always goes by "Patxi" (Patxi Lopez).
Also, like in the Patxi Lopez case, you might be born or living in the Basque Country and named Francisco, but go by Patxi.
Going by Patxi when you're named François it's because the Basque Country region also overlaps with France.