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Baby names

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

Original poster

For a boy, what are your opinions on...

35 replies

Rainatnight · 17/01/2019 15:28

Frank? (Francis on birth cert, but never ever used).

It's a family name for both me and DP, and I thought it was just a nice, solid name. But yesterday someone told DP that it has sort of gangster, East London connotations ('like Frank Butcher' Hmm).

Have we missed something? Is Frank somehow beyond the pale? To be honest, it would take a lot to put us off it.

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Isth · 17/01/2019 21:25

Oh I love it! If I had a son tomorrow he’d be a frank, or a Fraser.

moredoll · 17/01/2019 21:22

I like them all - Francis, Frank and Frankie.

Openandshut · 17/01/2019 21:19

If you ask for opinions that's what you'll get it, and I wasn't the only one who made negative remarks. It's a family name for me too. There are several in my family and I love them but I can't say that it's a name I care to continue even though my family are big fans of of passing down names.

M0reGinPlease · 17/01/2019 21:13

Glad she also said it would take a lot to put her off it then!

Openandshut · 17/01/2019 21:13

I met a baby Frank recently. He was the most beautiful, tiny, doll like newborn. The name seemed so wrong, so ugly for such a gorgeous baby.

Openandshut · 17/01/2019 21:11

The OP asked for opinions and got them.

M0reGinPlease · 17/01/2019 20:52

Quite rude @Openandshut!

Openandshut · 17/01/2019 20:33

Frank is one of the ugliest names out there. It's such a harsh sounding unpleasant name. I can't imagine calling a lovely newborn Frank or Frankie(which is no better)

Pieceofpurplesky · 17/01/2019 20:32

My great uncle Francis married a Frances. They were Frank and Fanny Smile

Ipanema01 · 17/01/2019 20:26

My nephew is Frank, I love it. Never ever Frankie, just Frank. And same on his bc Smile

Norfolkbumpkins · 17/01/2019 20:04

So sorry but it's a noise not a name to me. Quite an abrasive noise.

M0reGinPlease · 17/01/2019 19:32

I had a school friend called Frank, full name Francis. I had no idea he was Francis until we got older and he started using it. My DD has a name which we use the diminutive of on a daily basis, but she has the option of using her full name when she's old of she wishes.

No negative connotations came to mind to me, if you like it go for it. It's a lovely name.

Aozora13 · 17/01/2019 19:29

I know a baby Frank, and I really like it. I think it’s enough of a name in its own right to go on the bc though if you’d never use Francis (unless that’s the family name!)

uhtredsonofuhtred · 17/01/2019 19:24

My friend has a frank(Francis on bc) at first I couldn't get used to calling a tiny baby frank it just felt odd because it sounds like such a grown up name. But he suits it so well now that he is nearly 5 and I couldn't imagine him being called anything else. She doesn't use Francis either

SingingSands · 17/01/2019 19:20

I know a Frank, aged 11.

I prefer it to Frankie, which sounds cutesy and girlie to my mind.

Frank is a cool name.

flamingnoravera · 17/01/2019 19:09

My boy is a Frank (now 24), he was Frankie when he was little and often still is when I'm talking to him. He never uses Francis but it's a family name so it went on the BC. He LOVES his name.

flingingmelon · 17/01/2019 18:34

I am related to a Frank. Francis on his birth certificate, Frankie when I'm pissed and I'm trying to wind him up 😊

He doesn't use Francis, he doesn't like it.

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 17/01/2019 18:33

My friends boy is Frank and is Frank on his birth certificate, I love it

mummyofboys30 · 17/01/2019 18:30

Think Frank is a lovely name and could be Frankie as a little one. Not sure Francis needed on birth certificate as very different to Frank. Wouldnt link Frank as nickname of Francis tbh

GB54 · 17/01/2019 18:28

I wouldn’t put a name on the BC I was never going to use but I prefer Francis to Frank. I know a Francis, nickname Fran, and he’s pretty cool.

tammytoby · 17/01/2019 17:54

Francis and Frank are SO different. I would only choose Francis if I liked the name and intended to use it!

MumUnderTheMoon · 17/01/2019 17:29

Don't put Francis on the birth certificate if you dislike it enough to never ever use it, that would be ridiculous. Just use frank.

DramaAlpaca · 17/01/2019 17:24

I dislike it, sorry.

But at least it's interesting and he'll be the only one in his class, so that's a positive.

ReginaPhalange89 · 17/01/2019 17:22

I don't like it at all , especially Francis. Frank sounds like an old man and Francis is very feminine and a bit wet sounding to me. Also don't really understand the whole putting it on the BC if you're never ever going to use it, so if you're set on Frank just have Frank

cariadlet · 17/01/2019 16:51

I think it did have East End connotations in the past, but not so much now. I'm so old that my first thought was Frank Spencer, but that wouldn't mean anything to a baby born now (or his future friends).

I've taught a couple of Frankie's and thought it seemed a nice diminutive.

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