Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

What do you think of Francis for a boy?

37 replies

MogTheForgetfulCat · 18/11/2010 13:21

DH suggested it last night, think it could be a runner. Not madly keen on Frank as a nn, though - maybe Frankie? Or not? Fran is a bit girly, maybe...

Can't quite imagine it as a baby name, but imagine he would grow into it as a boy.

Other possibles are Jonah (but have an Isaac already, so poss a bit much), Laurence (Laurie), Alexander and Hal (poss to be called Henry but known as Hal).

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MissMashMissMash · 20/11/2010 21:26

Love it, unusual but still classic. Love the nicknames Fran, Frankie and Frank

MerryMarigold · 20/11/2010 21:26

I like it. We were considering Mark Francis (as middle name). Didn't go for either in the end, but I liked it a lot.

Original poster

MogTheForgetfulCat · 20/11/2010 20:36

Highlandgirl, am now intrigued as to how many prattish, poncey Francises (that looks odd...) you know . Thanks for all opinions, v useful to see reactions!

OP posts:

MrsvWoolf · 20/11/2010 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

persephoneplum · 20/11/2010 06:41

Absolutely love it. I met an adult Frank the other day and thought he was hot. He was definitely NOT poncey!

anonymosity · 20/11/2010 01:59

Oh no - I have only met completely stuffy, up their own arses Freddies and Laurences

Highlandgirl · 19/11/2010 17:40

Sorry but all the Francis i know are well....total prats and very poncey...! What about Fredrick aka Freddie??

Love Laurence (on our list) but with a 'W' and Alexander too.

amelem · 19/11/2010 16:27

That was my top name for if DD had been a boy. Irish Catholic background here, def not Tory though.

pranma · 19/11/2010 16:20

I have a dgs [7] who is francis-he is called frank or Frankie-he is a deliciously mischievous little boy and it really suits him.

LemonDifficult · 19/11/2010 13:35

Very Tory if Francis

Very TUC if Frank

ConstanceFelicity · 19/11/2010 13:33

Love it. Very unusual.

iwouldgoouttonight · 19/11/2010 13:32

I really like it - we considered it if DD had been a boy. I know an adult Francis and he is often called Frankie (which I think also suits a baby). He has a son called Jonah so his family (and you) have good taste in names!

Edmundo · 19/11/2010 13:28

I liike Francis and like Frank as the nickname too.

NadiaWadia · 19/11/2010 01:32

Dull and a bit poncey - sorry.

dinosaurkisses · 18/11/2010 22:09

DP is a 22 year old Francis- it's a family name. It's a classic name that everyone will be able to spell and pronounce, there's lots of nickname possibilities (my Francis gets Fran, Franky and er- Frangina) plus it is just AN ACE NAME.

RumourOfAHurricane · 18/11/2010 21:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pointydog · 18/11/2010 20:59

Not too keen.

I prefer Frances for a girl.

MuffinMouse · 18/11/2010 20:50

Love all your choices except Francis. Fran is too feminine and Frank is a bit meh. I'm not a fan of unisex names - especially for boys, sorry. But you've got some great alternatives IMO.

EightiesChick · 18/11/2010 20:05

I also love Francis - there is a strong suggestion of Irish Catholic but not in every case. However it partly helps to shorten to Frank - which I also love - and you've said you're not keen on this. Fran I prefer for a girl really. Love Frances for a girl, possibly even more. It was my fave middle name if DS had been a DD.

Laurence is also great.

anonymosity · 18/11/2010 20:02

I love Francis, but I agree with batteryhuman it means Catholic and likely Irish to me too for the same reasons.

MuddledMum · 18/11/2010 19:59

My DS1 is also Isaac and so I clearly think you have fantastic taste in names already!

We also thought of Jonah for DS2 but like you I worried it might sound slightly like we should be wearing gingham and sitting in a horse and cart. I also lost count of the number of people who mentioned the bad luck association to me (although frankly I'd never heard of it before). I think Francis/Fran is fab. Really, really fab and makes me think of Francis Ford Copolla or Sir Francis Drake (basically boy Francis not girl Francis) Not so keen on Henry, we considered that too but it just didn't sem to have the softness that I loved about the name Isaac. Met a 9 year old called Laurence for the first time yesterday (Laurie). I would never have considered it before but on him it really was very cool.

llandb · 18/11/2010 18:48

Nice name but could never use it because it's the name of a friend (and my GF was Frank)

That's the trouble with good names; they've already been nicked by some other blighter :o

Batteryhuman · 18/11/2010 18:27

Francis to me is very Catholic and often Irish but then i come from an Irish RC background

MonkeySee · 18/11/2010 18:27

I love it.

yellowflowers · 18/11/2010 18:25

I love it especially shorted to Frank

Unflip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread