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Baby names

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Original poster

Fanni/Fanny - both inappropriate?

87 replies

YoungLadyFromScandinavia · 13/10/2019 17:25

Sorry for my bad English, I'm not a native English speaker and neither have my English grades been high. So I guess there are a lot of mistakes in this post.

I'm from Finland where the name Fanni/Fanny is a quite usual name. I know many girls and women who are named Fanni or Fanny. It's my name too, written with "I" as the last letter. For the last few days I have read much opinions about my name. This hasn't been very fun... I have read that the name "Fanny" means in the UK female genitals, and is considered very vulgar. Many Finnish people also think that it's not anymore a good idea to give that name to babies, since the world has become more international and English is a so well-known language. Do you think it saves anything if the name is written "Fanni" and not "Fanny"? It would be nice to read honest opinions. smile

Haha, I guess I'm over -emotional since I cried yesterday a little because I felt that my name was ruined.

Sorry for writing this question in this discussion area, I'm not sure if this is the right area for this question.

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Djimino · 14/10/2019 01:48

Also, even when Fanny is used to mean genitals it's a 'cute' affectionate name and not a vulgar nasty one. Iykwim
I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Djimino · 14/10/2019 01:36

If I heard of someone called Fanny or Fanni wouldn't think anything of it apart from thinking it was either an older person or someone from another country.
I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's a sweet name.
There are plenty of other names with 'other' meanings.
Dick
Willy
John
I'm sure there are more

percheron67 · 14/10/2019 01:16

Not a good choice. Neither is Minge/Minga.

DartmoorChef · 14/10/2019 01:03

We have French students each summer and fanny is a very common name. Please dont be upset by your name. It's fine.

DartmoorChef · 14/10/2019 01:02

We have French students each summer and fanny is a very common name. Please do t be upset by your name. It's fine.

ThighThighOfthigh · 14/10/2019 00:57

I'm aware that Fanny is a normal Scandinavian name. I would only think twice if it was a British person choosing the name for a baby.

giggly · 14/10/2019 00:54

You need to watch The Irn Bru advert about the baby named fanny then you really wouldn’t Grin

managedmis · 14/10/2019 00:52

It's popular in France too

Fanny St. Pierre or whatever

stucknoue · 14/10/2019 00:48

My dd has a(French) friend called Fanny at university - no issues at all

frogsoup · 14/10/2019 00:32

I know a couple of Fanny's - it's a common french name. I wouldn't name a child that who was growing up in England, but amongst adults you'd have to be pretty small-minded and ignorant to not realise that it's a common name in other countries. I can quite easily separate the two in my head and certainly don't think 'yeurg what a horrible name'. The pronunciation in French is a different 'i' sound which helps!

Poignet · 14/10/2019 00:26

Honestly, OP. Enough with the overreaction. How on earth could your mother have been expected to know that an ordinary Finnish name was a slang term for genitals in another culture? Apparently my surname (the very ordinary equivalent of Smith in my home country) sounds like a Greek slang term for genitals.

I know twoFrench Fannys. The genital connotation never occurs to me.

hoverboardforchristmas · 13/10/2019 22:06

Could you use a nickname

happycamper11 · 13/10/2019 22:01

After all, many people have unusual surnames which can be made fun of such as Pratt or Bottom (or both together) and they may be teased as children, but adults certainly realise how stupid it is to point put such things.

I know someone who married a Mr Bottom last weekend. She did not take his surname 😬

CatherineOfAragonsPrayerBook · 13/10/2019 20:05

I love the name Fanny and think its high time it was resurrected and reclaimed from its' ruder associations. After all, many people have unusual surnames which can be made fun of such as Pratt or Bottom (or both together) and they may be teased as children, but adults certainly realise how stupid it is to point put such things.

I'm very glad it's been used in other cultures!Smile

Please don't worry about it! It's lovely but you can go by the name Fran if you prefer.

daisypond · 13/10/2019 19:32

Well, I know a grown-up Fanny and no one bats an eyelid. It’s just her name. I actually like it as a short form of Frances, and anyway my first thought is the main fabulous character in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.

SoyDora · 13/10/2019 19:12

it’s a very rude word!

I wouldn’t say ‘very rude’. It’s a very mild slang term.

OP, I (thankfully) don’t know any adults who would laugh at your name. I would hope that the vast majority of grown ups would be mature enough to realise that naming traditions are different in other countries and other cultures.

Frith2013 · 13/10/2019 18:51

Yes, both are inappropriate.

TheQueef · 13/10/2019 18:50
Brooksay · 13/10/2019 18:49

Could be worse. I work with a chap called 'Dikshit'..

Cantrememberpassword · 13/10/2019 18:43

You can use the British version which is FRANCES, Fanny is short for Frances over here, it is my Christian name.

museumum · 13/10/2019 18:38

It’s not “very” vulgar imo. I’m Scottish and here it’s often used as a slang and rude but affectionate version of “idiot”. Though it does mean female genitalia. It’s similar in English to the boys name “Dick” in that it’s still a valid name and most adults wouldn’t snigger.

JasonPollack · 13/10/2019 18:37

Hilarious name in the UK. Otherwise, fine. All over the world names will sound like rude slang of elsewhere. I once knew a Korean girl whose name was pronounced mingey!

iklboo · 13/10/2019 18:32

I work with a lady called Fanny. Her parents are Dutch. Absolutely lovely and nobody bats an eyelid (if they do behind her back then they're twats).

BeardedMum · 13/10/2019 18:32

I am from Scandinavia and love the name Fanny. I also have a friend called Fanny who lives in the UK. I think most people you are likely to want to hang out with would be aware of Fanny being a Scandinavian name and probably be familiar with it from for example Fanny and Alexander.

As an aside, you are not Scandinavian if you are Finnish😉

TargaryenBean · 13/10/2019 18:29

Meant to say funny side