Message: "Frances" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Frances

by Bex

4/21/2015, 2:16 PM

Husband and are trying to conceive baby no 1.

We have a super extensive boy name list, however only have a handful of girls names.
There are really only a few girls names we love and would use:
Theodora, Daphne, Winifred and Hilda

I'm trying to explore a few more options since more than likely our first baby will end up a girl.

We both kinda like Frances, but my main issue is no useable nickname.. I really hate "Fran" or "Frannie" as a nickname, and i'm happy to have Frances with no nickname but would people automatically shorten Frances to Fran/nie

Any other names that would go with potential siblings:
Daphne, Theodore/Theodora, Winifred/Wilfred, Hilda, Casper, Alfred

#Frances

Replies

- Flora (booksandtea) +2

4/22/2015, 12:37 PM

I know two female Frances'... one does go by Franny, the other by Frank & Frankie.

Frances on it its own is doable. However when she grows older her friends may give her nick names.

I also like Frances.

Why do you think you will more than likely have a daughter?

- Bex +1

4/22/2015, 2:34 PM

I think we will have a daughter for two reasons:

1) I want a son so badly

2) on my mothers side of the family EVERYONE has had a girl first.

I really don't want any daughters because I feel like I understand little boys/teenage boys much better than I understand girls. I know i'd love a daughter regardless but i'd really love three boys. I also have 3 nieces and 1 nephew and the girls are crazy little things, having a boy would be nice to even out the numbers as well..

- Flora (booksandtea)

4/23/2015, 12:52 PM

If it is any consolation, my friend who's husband's family has had one girl in several generations, now has two daughters. :)

You never know. Haha.

I do love Frances though, and I found that if you reiterate 'Frances' people will tend to call her that.

- erb816

4/22/2015, 8:54 AM

I don't think Frances needs a nickname, necessarily. I knew a Frances in high school who just went by Frances, and it was fine.

Of all the names you posted, however, my favorite is Winifred (I would spell it Winnifred). Though I might be in the minority in this regard.

- Pie +1

4/22/2015, 12:20 AM

I love Frances. Whether Fran happens depends a lot on how you pronounce it. In many accents in the UK, Frances is pronounced with a long a - FRAAN ces, not FRAN ces, so Fran isn't immediately natural as a shortening. My aunt Frances has never been Franned. But as queenv said, it's always possible that your daughter might decide she likes it! I don't mind it myself. Definitely better than Fanny or Cissy.

Some others: Edith, Elfrida, Muriel, Linnet, Lilian, Nora(h), Iris, May, Viola, Adela, Gwen(dolen/line/whatever), Olwen, Helen(a)/ Nell(a) / Elinor, Evelyn, Florence, Marion / Marianne, Mabel, Amabel, Beatrice, Constance, Cecily, Celia, Cordelia, Vera, Verena, Nina, Millicent, Evadne, Phoebe, Hebe, Josephine, Nadine, Philomena, Vivien

This message was edited 4/22/2015, 12:26 AM

- Bex

4/22/2015, 3:29 AM

Thanks, out of your suggestions I like:

Iris
Elinor
Evelyn (can't use as ex bfs daughters name)
Mabel
Beatrice
Constance
Vera
Josephine
Vivien

- queenv

4/21/2015, 7:39 PM

I was friends with a Frances who was always called Frances. So I don't think Fran or Frannie is inevitable. But it all depends upon how a Frances would feel as an adult. You could bring up a daughter always calling her Frances, but if people started calling her Fran or Frannie as an adult and she either didn't mind or actively liked being called Fran or Frannie, then Fran or Frannie it would be. My rule is to not use a name if you dislike any of its nicknames.

- Wordsmith +1

4/21/2015, 6:50 PM

I've always adored Frances, and although it's no longer one of my absolute favorites, I will always cherish it. As for the nickname issue, I don't think people will repeatedly reduce Frances to Fran or Frannie if you actively enforce use of the name in its unabridged beauty.

Winifred is certifiably one of my favorite names, and I love Hilda and Theodora as well.

Additional suggestions:

Agatha
Agnes
Anthea
Augusta
Avis
Bernadette
Cicely
Constance
Cornelia
Cressida
Delia
Doris
Dulcie
Eudora
Eugenia
Euphemia "Effie"
Fern
Freda / Frida / Frieda
Griselda
Gwendolen
Henrietta
Hester
Honora / Honoria
Iolanthe
Jocasta
Jocosa
Judith
Lavinia
Letitia
Lucretia
Margery / Marjorie
Marguerite
Melicent / Melisande / Millicent

... Load Full Message

This message was edited 4/21/2015, 6:58 PM

- Bex

4/22/2015, 3:27 AM

Thanks! :)

Hilda is not popular here that's for sure! I always hated it, but now I love it.

Out of your suggestions I love:
Agnes
Augusta
Constance
Dulcie
Rosamond / Rosamund
Rowena

I'd seriously consider using Augusta or Rowena (though husband HATES Rowena! :( he has such good taste most of the time! :P )

- Pink Princess +1

4/21/2015, 3:56 PM

Here in Australia, I think it's somewhat inevitable that Frances would get shortened. Nearly every name gets shortened! As for a few more suggestions, what about Celeste, Esther, Edie, Rose, Tabitha, Iris, Pearl, Audrey, Adele, Adela, Ada, Sadie, Sabrina, Della, Freya, Hazel, Joy, Lois, Clara, Cleo, Zelda, Bonnie, Nancy, Miriam, Martha, Maeve, Mae, Mabel and Maisie.

- Bex

4/22/2015, 3:25 AM

Yeah, we do like shortening names! However my brother Christian has never been called Chris.

I like:
Audrey (but not usable due to poularity and it was my husbands grandmothers name and his mum is not keen on us using it)
Adele
Miriam
Mabel

Thanks :)

- Llewella (penguiny7) +2

4/21/2015, 2:48 PM

I think Frankie as a nn for Frances is really cute. I never did until I met one in college. I also kinda like Francie. I don't like Fran or Frannie though, either, and don't think it would get automatically shortened.

- Flora (booksandtea)

4/22/2015, 12:38 PM

I didn't even think of Francie! Love it!

- Bex

4/22/2015, 3:24 AM

Yeah i'm considering Frankie, not sure if I 100% like it. Though my great-grandfather went by Frank so it's a cute homage to him.

- Aine (poetic_freedom) +1

4/21/2015, 2:38 PM

Frankie or Frank would be my first instincts for a Frances nickname.

I think Frances nn Frankie would fit in with the other names you like very well.

- Bex

4/22/2015, 3:23 AM

I don't know if I like Frankie.. it seems a bit rough sounding to me, though I generally like boyish nicknames.

However Frankie would be a cute cue to my great-grandfather who went by Frank.

Thanks :)

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