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Baby names

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Original poster

Fanny for a girl?

294 replies

LemonZebras · 21/02/2026 16:59

Hi everyone,

I’m expecting a baby girl. My husband is French and is insistent that he wants to name our daughter after his aunt who raised him - Fanny! It’s a common French name, but the baby will be born and raised in the UK.

Am I unreasonable to say no and to worry that she would be bullied or made fun of? My husband thinks I’m overreacting and that the slang word is barely used nowadays and that not many people know of it.

I will be showing him this thread with the different responses.

Thank you

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Umidontknow · 22/02/2026 14:02

It is very well known and used 😆

Tessa92 · 22/02/2026 13:59

My name Is Frances (boomer age). My mum always insisted on full names for all of us but at junior school a girl in my class started calling me Fani (spelt like that but pronounced Fanny) but that was before the name meant nothing else (think 1960s). It stuck. At uni I started to call myself Frankie which everyone from there still calls me. However my sisters still always call me Fani. My partner and family call me Franny!! I always introduce myself as Frances.

LittlePinkDinosaur · 22/02/2026 13:54

FourSevenTwo · 21/02/2026 17:14

It's weird that Willies and Dicks fine, but Fanny is seen as such a big issue here.

Are they? Any Richard's i know are not shortened to Dick these days and I've only known a William to be shortened to Willie if people are taking the mickey.

Terfarina · 22/02/2026 13:47

Fanny for a girl and Dick for a boy. No.

whoahokeycokey · 22/02/2026 13:44

I had the nickname ‘Fanny’ off my mum. It was from a film she saw and said I resembled a character 🙄anyway she was a school governer and was walking through school one day and referred to me as ‘Fanny’ let’s just say it was the start of my demise at school. I was bullied horrendously. I suffered anxiety and didn’t do great in my exams.

I resat at college where no one knew of me as ‘Fanny’ and I did good. I went on to university and I have a successful career.

However, im estranged from my parents now. My mum never took the bullying and name calling seriously. I asked her regularly to not call me ‘Fanny’ but use my correct name. She said it was her special name for me and she was hurt by my asking. I know my estrangement is not just down to the name, but as parents you have an obligation to your child. Research the name, it’s nicknames, it’s referencing and then make a decision. The fact it is slang for female genitalia is reason to maybe think again. Did his aunt have a middle name?

I hope you reach an agreement, but naming a child is almost as important as teaching them to swim!!!

dontforgetme · 22/02/2026 13:40

Louise is beautiful op!

Storminthesky · 22/02/2026 13:40

Please NO! How about Francine/Francesca/Francis? If you were in France then fair play, but I've worked in schools (UK) and the bullying would be horrendous for the poor little mite

BluebelltheTulip · 22/02/2026 13:31

Scottish person here. Fanny is used as an insult here (to describe someone who you deem to be an absolute moron) on a daily basis. Not just for lady bits. Definite NO!!!!!!

Dogmum74 · 22/02/2026 13:30

This has to be made up? As why would any sane woman entertain the idea to the point you are asking strangers on the internet? Fanny. Pahahahahaha

Jok77 · 22/02/2026 13:29

Absolutely not! Poor child would be tormented. I would compromise on Francesca or Francine.

ForLuckyCat · 22/02/2026 13:28

Please do not call your child Fanny! She will get so much grief!

ihatecoffee · 22/02/2026 13:26

No no no! Horrendous name for a baby!

May be acceptable abroad fair enough - I know in Sweden it’s popular but as this child is going to be brought up in the UK it’s a no from me

how would he feel if you wanted to name your baby a name that was unacceptable in France?

Confusedmum74858 · 22/02/2026 13:23

Under no circumstances can you call her Fanny 😂

angelfacecuti75 · 22/02/2026 13:23

Compromise with fran. Tell him what it means....

angelfacecuti75 · 22/02/2026 13:22

No don't call her that.

Bamboozledbylife · 22/02/2026 13:22

No. Just no....

Bonbon249 · 22/02/2026 13:20

It's another no from me! You can assure your husband that it is widely known and used in the UK in an unflattering way!

Northernladdette · 22/02/2026 13:20

How about Fufu, Minge or Muff? 🤣

ItWasMyTurn · 22/02/2026 13:19

Really?? You need to ask?? Just NO!

Clipperchow · 22/02/2026 13:14

Why not, life's a bit depressing at times, so if you want to give everyone that ever meets her reason for a good laugh, then yes go for it 👍🏻

Flamingoqueenofchaos · 22/02/2026 13:13

No no and no again - not even as a middle name!

RachTheAlpaca · 22/02/2026 13:12

You absolutely can't call a UK child Fanny! I'd go as far as saying that it's child abuse

BarefootBaritone · 22/02/2026 13:10

Sure. But suggest that if you have a boy next you name him Dick.

Branwells77 · 22/02/2026 13:09

No no no do not do that to your poor child and no to it being a middle name too
congratulations but absolutely No to the name

silverstorm101 · 22/02/2026 13:07

I told my kids ages 15, 13 and 9 that a friend had called their little girl 'Fanny' each on of them burst out laughing and knew the slang meanings so it definitely still well known. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I'm pretty sure you have enough evidence now to change his mind 🤞🏻😬

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