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What is your opinion of Frank as a given name versus nickname? I don't care for Francis or Franklin, but there is something I like about just plain, simple Frank.
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I personally prefer Frank as its own name.
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I didn't realize Frank was generally a nickname, to be honest. I know it can be short for Franklin and Francis, but I never would have thought there would be a problem with Frank standing on it's own. Personally, I prefer it as a nickname for Franklin, but I don't mind it as a given name.
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It's okay. I seriously considered naming my son Francis (it's a family name and I like it) and I'm sure he would've been called Frankie and eventually Frank - since I don't think Francis was butch enough for my husband to call his son. I got a lot of negative feedback from almost all the people I suggested Frankie to.
But, I dunno. I think I feel about Frank the same way my husband feels about Edith - that it's just a little too unfashionable-seeming for our family to pull off, or to want to pull off. I don't think that is true of Edith, but my husband rejected it saying it seemed like a "statement" and Frank seems *almost* like a statement if I called my son that. Didn't quite sit right. The sound of it is sort of ugly and blunt, to me, so much so, that it feels almost self-consciously so, if it were my own son. It feels almost pretentiously unfashionable, if that makes any sense. I think it'd be decent and likable on someone else's boy, though.
But, I dunno. I think I feel about Frank the same way my husband feels about Edith - that it's just a little too unfashionable-seeming for our family to pull off, or to want to pull off. I don't think that is true of Edith, but my husband rejected it saying it seemed like a "statement" and Frank seems *almost* like a statement if I called my son that. Didn't quite sit right. The sound of it is sort of ugly and blunt, to me, so much so, that it feels almost self-consciously so, if it were my own son. It feels almost pretentiously unfashionable, if that makes any sense. I think it'd be decent and likable on someone else's boy, though.
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I've known a few young Frank/Frankies.
It's definitely coming back in style.
It's definitely coming back in style.
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Well, to put it frankly...
I don't like it XD I feel it's extremely outdated...I just picture a large old man. Although there's something kind of cute/funny about imagining a little toddler-aged boy with this name haha.
I don't like it XD I feel it's extremely outdated...I just picture a large old man. Although there's something kind of cute/funny about imagining a little toddler-aged boy with this name haha.
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Frank works perfectly well as a full name to me. I just don't like it because it sounds so old-mannish.
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I like Franklin more than just Frank. Therefore, I prefer Frank as just a nickname for Franklin. I don't really like Francis at all.
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I like the plainness and simplicity of it. I know a 30-something Frank who is just Frank, and it suits him. The only problem I can see with it being a full name and not an nn is that you might end up with Frankie, which I can't stand - ruins the whole nice simpliclty of Frank, imo.
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I agree that Frankie should avoided!
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I love Frank. So deadpan!
I prefer it on its own moreso than as a nickname. Francis and Frank don't really "belong" to each other to me, if that makes sense. I know Frank can be used as a nickname for Francis but, despite how close they are, it's always seemed a little forced to me.
In a GP sort of way I like Franck very much, too. No rhyme or reason to it but I enjoy something about that superfluous C thrown in there.
I prefer it on its own moreso than as a nickname. Francis and Frank don't really "belong" to each other to me, if that makes sense. I know Frank can be used as a nickname for Francis but, despite how close they are, it's always seemed a little forced to me.
In a GP sort of way I like Franck very much, too. No rhyme or reason to it but I enjoy something about that superfluous C thrown in there.
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Just curious if you know the reason Frank is a nn for Francis, or do they just seem disconnected in your opinion? Also, do they not "belong" to each other for you because they have different feels to them?
I'll admit to occasionally liking things spelled oddly if they look appealing. Franck is kind of cool!
I'll admit to occasionally liking things spelled oddly if they look appealing. Franck is kind of cool!
This message was edited 10/18/2010, 9:31 AM
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I'm not sure about the history of Frank as a nn for Francis, but I agree that they do feel very different and seem disconnected. Frank has been used as a full name since at least the nineteenth century.
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In the middle ages a common diminuative of a name was to add -kin to it. I'd imagine that's how you get Frank from Francis, same as how you get Hank from Henry, Jack from John, Rick from Richard, etc.
I get a very similar underlying feeling from both names, so I guess I have no problem loving Frank as a nn for Francis! I think Francis feels much more formal and Frank is nice and rugged, and I like that there are both options with the same name.
I get a very similar underlying feeling from both names, so I guess I have no problem loving Frank as a nn for Francis! I think Francis feels much more formal and Frank is nice and rugged, and I like that there are both options with the same name.
This message was edited 10/18/2010, 11:42 AM
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I knew a German guy whose name was Franck, pronounced more like Frunk or Frahnk than the apple sound in Frank. But I don't know if it was short for anything.
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Yes, I know what you mean. There is a really no-nonsense quality to Frank that attracts me to the name. It seems that fussier names are becoming more popular, and I like the bold simplicity of Frank.
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Since I love it so much as a nickname, I can't say that I dislike it on its own, either. Though I'd prefer to see it as a nn, I'd still be happy seeing it at all!
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I don't really like it. Maybe as a nickname but I still find it plain.
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I love it.
I think it's short and spunky. I also really don't get the need for 'formal' names. Frank, Kate, Gwen - if it's all you're going to call the kid, just name him/her that.
I think it's short and spunky. I also really don't get the need for 'formal' names. Frank, Kate, Gwen - if it's all you're going to call the kid, just name him/her that.
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I'm such a "don't use nicknames as full names" purist that I don't even approve of Molly, Sally, or Jack being used on their own, so there's no way I'd make an exception for Frank! (Though at times I have mistakenly thought that certain names originated as nicknames when they didn't---Lucy being one, and Gwen being another--in these cases, I back down.) Besides, Frank always makes me think of hot dogs.
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