Frankenmuth is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,987 at the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Frankenmuth Township. The city's name is a combination of two words. Franken represents the Region of Franconia in Bavaria from which the original settlers came, and the German word Mut means "courage". Thus, the name Frankenmuth means "courage of the Franconians". The most popular nickname is "Little Bavaria", in reference to the city's German heritage.