Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Frances

59 replies

ClaraBean · 24/03/2021 10:07

Thoughts?
We have a list of 5 potentials, but we both really like this I think, so I fear I'm making the list even bigger!!!
Would use Fran/Frannie for a nickname I think. DP is a big fan of a nickname.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
mum2jakie · 01/04/2021 10:35

@123344user

Read Iain Banks' "The Wasp Factory" (or at least the plot summary on Wikipedia) before making a firm decision... It's a nice name but it's always best to go in with your eyes open.
The main character in The Wasp Factory is a boy called Francis. Different sex, different spelling, different name. Would never make the association with the book! It's hardly mainstream reading either.
Amdone123 · 30/03/2021 17:20

@Biscuitsneeded, I meant it is a classic, traditional name, but not one I like. I went to school with someone named Frances, and she was a bully. It's probably that !

WhiteHairReally · 30/03/2021 14:12

My granny’s name but she never used it, being known as Queenie or Q instead.she was a bossy little girl and the eldest of a tribe of all girl cousins.
We couldn’t use it as the surname has ‘off’ in the middle of it.
‘F off’ was one to dodge.

Love the Frances /Helena combo mentioned upthread. I’d add Celia, which I think has a similar vibe, as does Eleanor, also already mentioned.

One of Granny’s younger cousins was also Frances, but known as Fanny.

Twizbe · 30/03/2021 14:01

I like it but then it's my middle name, my mums name and my granddad's name (Francis)

My mum is known as Frankie.

She's not overly keen on her name. She's disliked the gender neutral nature of it as there have been mix ups from it

MitheringSunday · 30/03/2021 13:44

Frances Ellen is lovely!

Like it, in case you hadn't guessed. It's one of those underused suits-every-stage names.

OneMoreForExtra · 30/03/2021 13:41

All the people saying it's classy don't know my MIL!

Risks sounding harsh especially when said with a very short A in any of the northern accents

Fran sounds like a frazzled, hassled, dishevelled person to me.

But then I never understood Finn as a boys name either!

SisterAgatha · 30/03/2021 13:39

I like it because it feels old east end. I know a lot of Frans. The only thing I would say about Franny as a nn is that some people say it short at the front - Fran-eee and some say it long at the front - Fraaaaarn-ee. And this can be annoying for the Fran. I have the same thing happen with my NN.

123344user · 30/03/2021 13:39

Read Iain Banks' "The Wasp Factory" (or at least the plot summary on Wikipedia) before making a firm decision...
It's a nice name but it's always best to go in with your eyes open.

TulipFields · 30/03/2021 13:36

I like it.

shipsandgiggles · 30/03/2021 13:35

Beautiful name

Biscuitsneeded · 30/03/2021 13:33

@Amdone123 I think of Frances as a traditional, classic name. There's one in Jane Austen and lots of Tudor women called Frances!

chalktheblockwithglitterchalk · 30/03/2021 05:47

I don't like it. My mothers name is Frances. She has always hated it.

Amdone123 · 30/03/2021 04:23

Do you like Ellen or Eleanor?

Amdone123 · 30/03/2021 04:22

I don't like it. I love traditional, classic names like Elizabeth and Catherine, so it's just a personal taste. Pearl is beautiful. As pp said ( and I couldn't work out why I didn't like it til I read pps post), it's too masculine sounding.
I don't like Fran, or Frannie.
What other names do you like ?

Rangoon · 30/03/2021 03:32

I like Francesca, With Frances, I can see a lifetime of spelling it as people will spell it with the an "i" half the time. I sometimes get the boy version of my name and have to spell it a lot - and there are only 4 letters!

Heh1991 · 30/03/2021 03:19

I love Frances. It’s not a name that you hear a lot either!! Fran and Frannie are cute nicknames too!

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 27/03/2021 13:13

I know twins called Helena and Frances...... Frances Helena would work well. Wink

Fyredraca · 27/03/2021 13:10

Gorgeous name op

KirstenBlest · 27/03/2021 13:08

Very nice. Elegant and inoffensive. Fran is nice but Frannie a bit too close to Fanny. Fransie might be a better one

reallyalurker · 27/03/2021 11:38

I like it and it makes me think of the Russell Hoban books.

SirVixofVixHall · 27/03/2021 11:33

I love Frances, so elegant, but hate Frankie. I don’t think Frances would need a pet name though.

Viviennemary · 27/03/2021 11:28

Not keen. I agree it's masculine sounding even with the different spelling.

Biscuitsneeded · 27/03/2021 11:25

Classy, timeless and not frilly name for a strong woman.I love it.

GinasGirl · 27/03/2021 11:19

I love it and Frances and Pearl are gorgeous together.

Tlollj · 27/03/2021 11:10

Love it. I’m biased it’s my dgd name. She doesn’t get it shortened either. She’s 7 and it’s very unusual in her age group, if that’s a concern for you.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread