Opinions on Francis over Frank

I prefer Francis. i know two people named Francis, both male.

I'm just not a fan of Francis

Names like Lindsey and Lesley were used for men decades ago but I wouldn’t saddle a boy with them now

They probably weren't, but Lindsay and Leslie were. I like both names but they're dated. Better as surnames IMO.

There is Fran Healy of Travis… he might be a Francis.

Overall, it's a unisex sort of name.

Frances (F) or Francis (M).

Both sexes could be nn Frank or Frankie. But I suppose only women would be nn Fran or Frannie.

Overall, I think it's always better to put a 'full' name on a BC not a nickname. You're naming an adult not just a baby/child.

And think of St Francis of Assisi.

Not sure why you have sent me a link to the Pope? I didn’t know his name but that said I wasn’t disputing that Francis is a male name, I just said I would see the name as female in the same way as I see Robin as female. That’s just the vibe I get from the name regardless of whether it actually is female. Plus isn’t the pope in his 80s or something? Names like Lindsey and Lesley were used for men decades ago but I wouldn’t saddle a boy with them now.

Franklin sounds wet and a bit downmarket.
@MolkosTeenageAngst , Pope Francis - Wikipedia

I’d think Francis was a female name, I didn’t know that the difference in spelling denoted that it’s masculine. Personally it I don’t think the name suits a boy but I would think the same about Robin and there are lots of them about.

I think Franklin is a bit crap. Francis is lovely, also gives the option of Fran which I prefer to Frank. Much cooler somehow.

Was also going to suggest maybe Franklin on the bc?

@Lexiestar6778 "t is it too feminine and would I be saddling my son with a feminine name"

Francis/Frances is one of the few genuinely unisex names. But anyway, giving girls boy's names is positively encouraged on here-why not the other way round?

I prefer Francis but if you like frank go for it. To me it feels a bit old man but a lot of babies are being called it so that will probably change (I haven’t met any baby franks yet)

I prefer francis, but would do francis on the bc and then Frank daily in this situation

Or Franklin x

No way!!! I know at least from my experience (21 from the North of England) a male named Francis would have had the mickey taken out of his name non stop at school!!! Definitely a girls name to the younger generation (never even known a male with that name)

Frank is a full name and a lot better IMO

Also my dad is Francis (one of the reasons I chose it) and it definitely doesn't feel feminine, he was a very manly fireman. Personally I think the person owns the name not the name owns the person.

My daughter is Frances and people often say "but that's a boys name" so definitely not too feminine! I chose it for its "strong woman" and non girly vibes

Oh dear, a pedant. Reminiscent of a French King (Francis I and II). What else could it mean?

Francis is fine. Frank or Frankie is a good nn for it but I wouldn't use it just on its own.
Franklin would also work as the full name though

What is French Kingly? 😆

I’ll be honest - 30 years ago at my comp, a Francis would have had teasing from some boys about having a girls name.

These days imo it’s unlikely to be an issue- I have met so many weird and wonderful names on young kids and quite a few boys with unisex ones. I really don’t think it’s a big deal anymore. Use Frank if you don’t really like Francis. But if you quite like it (I do - very French Kingly), then use Francis and give him the choice.

I'd always go for the full version to give the DC the option once they've grown up.

I detest a diminutive of my name, and have easily been able to default to the full version as an adult since that is what is on all my official paperwork.

Yes. I agree with previous people, Francis is the male version and Frances the female.
A few boys I knew growing up were named Francis but were always called Frankie. A girl Frances that I knew was called Fran or Frannie.

To me Frank is a nn so I would go with Francis on the bc; both are nice names but I prefer Francis.
I don't see it as feminine although you are right it does sound the same as Frances which is a favourite of mine.

The only Frances I know is a girl. Said the same but the spelling is different so depends how you feel about it. Frank is certainly more masculine, and more easily leads to Frankie which I think is really sweet when they are little.

We called my daughter a long/ formal name and only ever use the short form of the name day to day (think like Elizabeth and Beth) and I have to say she doesn't much like it. She is still young but she gets annoyed by the long name and people default to it whenever her name is read of a list, letters home etc. At this stage I think she'd prefer that she just had a name thats her name like her brothers- which is used day to day the same as his birth certificate.

I prefer Frank on the bc. I don’t think my teens would thank me for having Francis read out on the register in secondary school - I think they’d find it a bit wet sounding for their street cred!!