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HelpFanny
I'm not from an English speaking country, but I do know that "fanny" means "butt" in American English and "vagina" in British English.
In Germany and France it is a relatively normal name. It's not common in Germany, but you hear it from time to time. In France it was actually very common in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Now I was wondering:
1) is the slang word used a lot? Where are you from, roughly (e.g. UK, Australia etc.)
2) is it still used a name at all where you live?
3) do you think it is usable?
4) do you like it or do you think you would like it if the word didn't exist?
5) does it have any chance to become usable again in the future (if you don't think it's usable now?)
I would never use it, but I must say that I kind of like the sound and look of it. But of course I didn't grow up in an English speaking country. It is close to Annie or Ellie in style.
Fanny or Fannie?
And what do you think of Stephanie, Francesca etc. nickname Fanny or Fannie?
In Germany and France it is a relatively normal name. It's not common in Germany, but you hear it from time to time. In France it was actually very common in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Now I was wondering:
1) is the slang word used a lot? Where are you from, roughly (e.g. UK, Australia etc.)
2) is it still used a name at all where you live?
3) do you think it is usable?
4) do you like it or do you think you would like it if the word didn't exist?
5) does it have any chance to become usable again in the future (if you don't think it's usable now?)
I would never use it, but I must say that I kind of like the sound and look of it. But of course I didn't grow up in an English speaking country. It is close to Annie or Ellie in style.
Fanny or Fannie?
And what do you think of Stephanie, Francesca etc. nickname Fanny or Fannie?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
1. Not a lot but it's still pretty widely known.
2. No, not that I have ever seen.
3. No
4. I don't like it. It's not just the slang. It just doesn't sound pleasant to me either.
5. I don't think so. Maybe as a nickname but even then I think it would have a hard uphill slog to usability.
2. No, not that I have ever seen.
3. No
4. I don't like it. It's not just the slang. It just doesn't sound pleasant to me either.
5. I don't think so. Maybe as a nickname but even then I think it would have a hard uphill slog to usability.
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I live in Scotland and I reckon it would be a horrendous thing to do to call your child Fanny here. It’s used widely as an insult, especially among the younger generations (eg. ‘That guy’s a total fanny’ if you think someone’s an idiot). At the very least the name would raise some sniggers from school classmates, but probably worse bullying to be honest.
So,
1. Yes, a lot.
2. It hasn’t been used as a given name since they started publishing the full list of names in Scotland each year in 2005. I also don’t think anyone called Frances, etc would willingly use it as a nickname here.
3. Absolutely not.
4. No I don’t.
5. Certainly not here anyway.
So,
1. Yes, a lot.
2. It hasn’t been used as a given name since they started publishing the full list of names in Scotland each year in 2005. I also don’t think anyone called Frances, etc would willingly use it as a nickname here.
3. Absolutely not.
4. No I don’t.
5. Certainly not here anyway.
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1) is the slang word used a lot? Where are you from, roughly (e.g. UK, Australia etc.)
Here in South Africa it's used pretty routinely by English-speakers
2) is it still used a name at all where you live?
No
3) do you think it is usable?
I certainly hope not; I do like Frances, and all the Frances people I've ever known have either been Frances or used Fran as a nn
4) do you like it or do you think you would like it if the word didn't exist?
I find it a bit bland and uninteresting, like Annie instead of Ann/e
5) does it have any chance to become usable again in the future (if you don't think it's usable now?)
Not really. Realistically, however mature and liberated people may become, they are still likely to want to neutralise the power of their own and other people's sexuality, sexual organs, defecatory regions ... and for that, a slang name to giggle over is useful.
Here in South Africa it's used pretty routinely by English-speakers
2) is it still used a name at all where you live?
No
3) do you think it is usable?
I certainly hope not; I do like Frances, and all the Frances people I've ever known have either been Frances or used Fran as a nn
4) do you like it or do you think you would like it if the word didn't exist?
I find it a bit bland and uninteresting, like Annie instead of Ann/e
5) does it have any chance to become usable again in the future (if you don't think it's usable now?)
Not really. Realistically, however mature and liberated people may become, they are still likely to want to neutralise the power of their own and other people's sexuality, sexual organs, defecatory regions ... and for that, a slang name to giggle over is useful.
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New England, USA
1. It’s more corny old slang than anything you’d hear someone use seriously. Still, strongly enough associated it’s not really usable. Along the lines of Dick, BJ, or Woody.
2. Not on anyone under 60.
3. No. In addition to the reasons above, it is (was?) a clothing store chain in the area for awhile.
4. Yes! I love nicknames like Libby, Nellie, Minnie, etc. Fanny falls right in line.
5. Maybe in another generation when the association isn’t as strong.
1. It’s more corny old slang than anything you’d hear someone use seriously. Still, strongly enough associated it’s not really usable. Along the lines of Dick, BJ, or Woody.
2. Not on anyone under 60.
3. No. In addition to the reasons above, it is (was?) a clothing store chain in the area for awhile.
4. Yes! I love nicknames like Libby, Nellie, Minnie, etc. Fanny falls right in line.
5. Maybe in another generation when the association isn’t as strong.
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I really like Fanny and wish it would make a comeback.
Yes, it does mean "butt" in North America, but it's rather dated slang. I've only heard the word used that way once, when I was a child.
A few years ago I saw a young Latina named Fanny in the local paper. As you can imagine, I was thrilled. I think in her case it was a nn for Stephanie.
Fanny works perfectly well as a nn for Stephanie, Francesca, or any other Fran- name. According to the Submitted Names section, it's even used as an independent name in some north Atlantic countries: "Icelandic and Faroese form of FANNY as well as an Icelandic combination of the Old Norse name elements fǫnn "snow, snowdrift" and ný "new moon, waxing moon" or nýr "new; young; fresh"."
Yes, it does mean "butt" in North America, but it's rather dated slang. I've only heard the word used that way once, when I was a child.
A few years ago I saw a young Latina named Fanny in the local paper. As you can imagine, I was thrilled. I think in her case it was a nn for Stephanie.
Fanny works perfectly well as a nn for Stephanie, Francesca, or any other Fran- name. According to the Submitted Names section, it's even used as an independent name in some north Atlantic countries: "Icelandic and Faroese form of FANNY as well as an Icelandic combination of the Old Norse name elements fǫnn "snow, snowdrift" and ný "new moon, waxing moon" or nýr "new; young; fresh"."
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I remember in 5th year (maybe 6th) our teacher prepared us for a new student we were going to have. She said, "Now the new student is named Fanny" and lectured us about how we shouldn't dare make fun of this girl because of her name and there were giggles all over the room. For whatever reason, this girl never ended up at our school, but the pre-reaction stood.
Honestly, I like it. I think it's sweet and charming. It reminds me of classic novels, but even though the slang isn't common anymore, I still think it remains unusable. It's a shame really. Fanny and Dick are forever lost.
Honestly, I like it. I think it's sweet and charming. It reminds me of classic novels, but even though the slang isn't common anymore, I still think it remains unusable. It's a shame really. Fanny and Dick are forever lost.
This message was edited 7/21/2020, 5:47 PM
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In the US, “fanny” is more an old-fashioned cutesy word for “butt”. I don’t think it’s usable, but I think I would like it if the word didn’t exist.
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1. From the US, and it's used most often in "fanny pack." I've seen it occasionally outside of that context, enough to know it exists
2. Nope
3. Nope. Even just "fanny pack" is a silly enough association
4. No, I really don't like nickname-style names at all
5. I don't know, maybe, but I'd kind of rather it didn't
2. Nope
3. Nope. Even just "fanny pack" is a silly enough association
4. No, I really don't like nickname-style names at all
5. I don't know, maybe, but I'd kind of rather it didn't
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1). I’m from the U.S. and the word “fanny” is more of an old-fashioned word that isn’t really that vulgar - like, if someone lost a game or something, they could say “Well, kiss my fanny!” similarly to “Aw, shucks!” or “Darn!”. It’s also used more common in the South, where I live very close to, so I do hear it once or twice from my grandmother.
2). It’s not used at all where I live, entirely due to the slang.
3). In English-speaking countries? No. But in other countries, yes.
4). I don’t care for it.Even if the slang didn’t exist, Fanny would still sound pretty frumpy to me.
5). I dunno, maybe? If the slang word dies out and old-fashioned names become popular again.
I don’t really like Fanny/Fannie as a nickname for anything. I prefer Steph or Stephie for Stephanie and Cesca for Francesca.
2). It’s not used at all where I live, entirely due to the slang.
3). In English-speaking countries? No. But in other countries, yes.
4). I don’t care for it.Even if the slang didn’t exist, Fanny would still sound pretty frumpy to me.
5). I dunno, maybe? If the slang word dies out and old-fashioned names become popular again.
I don’t really like Fanny/Fannie as a nickname for anything. I prefer Steph or Stephie for Stephanie and Cesca for Francesca.
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I don't live in an English speaking country either, but I wouldn't consider it usable, and I do not think the meaning will fade in the foreseeable future. Discarding the crude associations, I think it sounds wimpy and childish. Fanny looks nicer than Fannie, and there are far nicer nicknames for Stephanie and Francesca.
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Fanny used to be very common in the US, but that was a hundred years or so ago. Fanny as a slang for buttocks is not vulgar the way the British vagina slang is; it's more like something your grandmother would say. "Sit your fanny down and be quiet" or "He slippd on the banana peel and went down right on his fanny" rather than "woo-ee, wat a big fat fanny!"
It's not used all that much as slang here, having been mostly replaced by butt, but it is still well-known. So no, Fanny isn't usable unless you like endless butt jokes and don't plan on your kid minding them.
No, I don't like it. Francesca and Stephanie are too nice to be dumbed-down to Fanny, and with Stephanie it feels forced.
It's not used all that much as slang here, having been mostly replaced by butt, but it is still well-known. So no, Fanny isn't usable unless you like endless butt jokes and don't plan on your kid minding them.
No, I don't like it. Francesca and Stephanie are too nice to be dumbed-down to Fanny, and with Stephanie it feels forced.
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1. I don't know that it's used a lot, but enough to cause some giggles if someone was named Fanny.
2. I guess. In the US it's more of a cutesy word for butt (ie. 'sit your fanny down!') so it's not vulgar. Just silly.
3. Personally, no. I wouldn't use and I'd feel bad for anyone in an English-speaking country with the name.
4. No. I've never known a Fanny, so to me it's just another word for butt. I'm not opposed to word names, even some silly ones, but I'm not about to name a kid butt lol If it wasn't associated with butts I don't know if I'd like it. It's hard to remove the name from that association. I guess my next closest association would be like a Victorian woman. I think of it as old fashioned, like Dolores, or Betty.
5. Maybe, if language evolves and the current usage dies away, which it feels like it is in the states at least. Can't speak for the UK.
Fannie over Fanny, since with the the 'y' version is a butt.
Not a fan of it as a nn for Stephanie (much prefer Steph) or Francesca (love the nn Frankie for it).
2. I guess. In the US it's more of a cutesy word for butt (ie. 'sit your fanny down!') so it's not vulgar. Just silly.
3. Personally, no. I wouldn't use and I'd feel bad for anyone in an English-speaking country with the name.
4. No. I've never known a Fanny, so to me it's just another word for butt. I'm not opposed to word names, even some silly ones, but I'm not about to name a kid butt lol If it wasn't associated with butts I don't know if I'd like it. It's hard to remove the name from that association. I guess my next closest association would be like a Victorian woman. I think of it as old fashioned, like Dolores, or Betty.
5. Maybe, if language evolves and the current usage dies away, which it feels like it is in the states at least. Can't speak for the UK.
Fannie over Fanny, since with the the 'y' version is a butt.
Not a fan of it as a nn for Stephanie (much prefer Steph) or Francesca (love the nn Frankie for it).
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In my experience, the slang word is not actually used a lot and is considered somewhat...I'm not sure what the right word is. Too tame or old-ladyish, I suppose. However, everyone is aware of it and that makes a difference.
It is not still used as a name in the US, and I don't think it's usable. In fact, I had a friend in sixth and seventh grades who was named Fanny. Her family had moved to the US from Uruguay, where apparently the name is perfectly acceptable. It took a few years, but eventually she understood that it wasn't acceptable here and why, and started going by her middle name. I don't see it ever being usable here again.
I think that if the word didn't exist, I'd like Fanny as a nickname for Frances.
It is not still used as a name in the US, and I don't think it's usable. In fact, I had a friend in sixth and seventh grades who was named Fanny. Her family had moved to the US from Uruguay, where apparently the name is perfectly acceptable. It took a few years, but eventually she understood that it wasn't acceptable here and why, and started going by her middle name. I don't see it ever being usable here again.
I think that if the word didn't exist, I'd like Fanny as a nickname for Frances.
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I like it! I'd prefer Franny to avoid possible teasing, but disregarding slang, I think it's really pretty.
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I’m a Francesca who used Fanny as a nickname in the past, before I found out the meaning in English. Some of my childhood friends still call me that, and some people I met through them.
I obviously like it if it wasn’t for the slang meaning, but I think it’s a bit inconsistent on its own and not as a nickname.
I obviously like it if it wasn’t for the slang meaning, but I think it’s a bit inconsistent on its own and not as a nickname.
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There was a French student who was at my university who was named Fanny. Everyone tried so hard to be polite about it but it did trigger a few smirks from the 18 year olds.
It just isn't useable here on a British child. If it wasn't a slang term for vagina I might like it as a nickname but not as a full.
I would go for the Fanny spelling because that's the spelling used by Jane Austen in her novels so it's the most familiar to me.
It just isn't useable here on a British child. If it wasn't a slang term for vagina I might like it as a nickname but not as a full.
I would go for the Fanny spelling because that's the spelling used by Jane Austen in her novels so it's the most familiar to me.
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