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There seems to be a lot of confusion about what the term "Frank" means. This is becomes it has meant three different things at different times and places in history:

1. From the 3rd to the 6th century: originally the Franks were confederation of Germanic tribes and foederati of Rome, meaning they were allowed to settle in Roman Gaul in exchange for defending the empire when needed. The name comes either from a Germanic word for spear, or from the Latin word for free, or possibly a combination of both.
2. After the 6th century: in the late 5th and early 6th century the Franks conquered Gaul. But unlike other Germanic conquerors from the migration period, they converted to Catholicism, which made it possible for them to intermarry with the local Gallo-Romans. Within a few generations the Franks no longer existed as a Germanic tribe, but dissolved into the population of France, which was now collectively referred to as "Franks". They continued to be known as Franks until around the 12th century, when the more common term became "French".
3. After the 11th century in the East: Among Muslims and Greeks, "Frank" came to refer to all West Europeans. That's because the Crusaders in the first few Crusades were overwhelmingly French, and at the time still referred to as "Franks".

Now please stop getting into fruitless debates about what "the Franks" were or weren't when you're each talking about something completely different. Thank you for your attention.