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Baby names

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

Florence or Frances?

33 replies

Ali2girls · 20/03/2012 21:22

Any thoughts on which is a nicer name? I love Florence and don't know any at all but keep hearing how popular it is. Thanks

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yellowflowers · 25/03/2012 23:03

Frances is beautiful

poppydaisy · 25/03/2012 22:53

Whilst Florence itself sounds nice, its nicknames aren't imo - Flo, Florrie, Floss, Flossie are really unfeminine.

Francesca is lovely! Franci is a lovely nicname too.

JasperJohns · 25/03/2012 22:53

I love Frances - looks so nice written down iyswim!

NagoosBeenCleaningWindows · 25/03/2012 22:46

Francesca if you want Frances.

I think Francis is a lovely boys name.

lockets · 25/03/2012 22:36

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lockets · 22/03/2012 22:40

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Ali2girls · 22/03/2012 22:30

well thanks everyone! Maybe I need to reconsider Frances - I was worried it was a bit frumpy!! Any other suggestions for similar sort of names? We like Mary too.

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WhiteHairReally · 21/03/2012 22:52

Love Frances - my Granny's name, although she was known as 'Q' - short for Queenie - also great name. Dd cross we didn't give her 'Q' as a supercool middle name, but I digress.

We couldn't use Frances for Dd because the initial F combined with surname looked like a swear phrase! Just a mild worry - Fanny is a diminutive of the very lovely, cool and graceful Frances...

clippityclop · 21/03/2012 19:05

Frances. Franny, Fran... cute and classic.

Bue · 21/03/2012 18:55

They're both great names, but Florence is super popular, Frances is not. So Frances all the way!

3boysgirlontheway · 21/03/2012 18:12

Well I have a 3 week old Florence, so I want you to pick Frances :)

Slartybartfast · 21/03/2012 17:28

i always want to spell francis/frances, wrong.
not keen on it because of that.
not keen anyway tbh.
nor on franscesca, cant spell that either, too prissy as well.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/03/2012 17:26

Used to like Florence until the Camerons used it now I wouldn't touch it.

If you are worried about the popularity of Florence, have you looked at the National Statistics figures for 2010? Having said that though, names are very regional so it might be worth asking your MW how many she knows about.

TheSurgeonsMate · 21/03/2012 17:00

Frances, please

squoosh · 21/03/2012 10:33

Frances is lovely. I think it's elegant and feminine without being frilly.

Florence is not a nice name and I cannot for the life of me understand it's popularity.

diamondsonthesolesofhershoes · 21/03/2012 09:54

My sister is Frances.. She's had numerous cute nns.. Frannie, Fran, Frankie, Cessy, like cess pit), Franniewiggles.. It's lovely!

smother · 21/03/2012 09:54

Frances is beautiful - sounds distinctive and graceful.
Florence is a lovely name but over-used these days so it has lost some of its sparkle for me.

FilterCoffee · 21/03/2012 09:50

They're both lovely, you can't go wrong :)

Theas18 · 21/03/2012 09:29

Frances. Florence is very popular at the moment.

mopsyflopsy · 21/03/2012 09:23

Frances or Francesca are both beautiful, classy and have lovely nicknames (Fran, Franci, Frannie). Also quite underused these days.

tummytickler · 21/03/2012 08:27

Love Frances (this was nearly dd1''s name), Florence is so dull.

mathanxiety · 21/03/2012 05:00

Frances. Beautiful, classic, elegant name.

mummydarlingsausage · 21/03/2012 03:56

Frances - lovely classic name. Also love Florence but too popular for my liking.

Nyx · 20/03/2012 23:24

I'm not keen on Frances, prefer Florence (or Francesca)

welovesausagedogs · 20/03/2012 23:23

Love Florence and Florrie as a nn