The
Frances I know is just "
Frances," and I don't think anyone ever calls her
Fran (which, I agree, is much worse than
Frances). There are other people like that at my school, who go by their full names when nicknames would be much easier. I know a Robinson, an
Alexandra, a
Thomas, a
Daniel, a
Cristina, a
Samantha, and a
Joanna who all go by their full first names. So I think
Fran is avoidable if you don't want her to be called that. Of course, it may just be my school.