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Baby names

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

Original poster

Frank or Leo? Is Frank a full name in its own right? Baby due in a few days!

34 replies

preggiemeggie · 02/11/2009 10:34

Hi all,

Baby is nearly here and we're down to two boy's names - Frank and Leo.
Frank would probably be Frankie when he's little. It wouldn't be Francis (as I would like) as DH hates it. But do you think Frank is now largely regarded as a 'proper name'?

Any thoughts/opinions most welcome!

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posieparker · 06/11/2009 13:04

I bloody love the name Frank, I know a baby Frank Flint Stone..... brilliant.

Penthesileia · 06/11/2009 13:01

I know someone called Leofranc, so perhaps you could go with that: two birds, one stone.

Heated · 06/11/2009 13:00

Definitely Frank.

slowreadingprogress · 06/11/2009 12:56

Leo is so way, way nicer than Frank! Leo is a lovely, intelligent name. But cool with it. Go for it. Frank is really not good.

Abubu · 06/11/2009 12:01

Leo is ok. Frank sounds a bit old fashioned imho.

skydancer1 · 06/11/2009 09:45

I nearly called my DS Leo after his great grandfather. Lovely name. Frank's good too - but I don't have such good associations with the name.

pixiestix · 05/11/2009 16:37

Leo is great!
Good luck

allaboutme · 05/11/2009 09:23

I love frank.
funny because ds2 was going to be Leo and i changed my mind the minute he was born and have hated the name ever since!

Original poster
preggiemeggie · 05/11/2009 09:20

Hi all, thanks for the comments - pretty diverse! Frank is a bit controversial amongst friends and family too. DH loves it but I'm still not sure. It has quite a hard sound, and slight Frank Butcher/Frank from Shameless connotations for me. Think we will go for Leo, or possibly Michael. We have a few other options up our sleeves too... Baby is due today (!) so I think we'll just have to see what he looks like - could also be a girl in which case I think we've got the name sorted.

OP posts:
ThatVikRinA22 · 05/11/2009 00:03

can i be frank? (pun intended) am i the only old git on here then who thinks frank is terrible

quite like francis. leo is fine...but frank is terrible!
dont do that to a baby!

bibbitybobbityhat · 04/11/2009 23:36

You MUST have Frank. It is brill.

whereareyou · 04/11/2009 23:33

Late posting but love Frank in its own right not as an abbreviation.
Leo lovely as well but Frank is a great name.

Squishabelle · 03/11/2009 15:59

Oh I sooooo like Frank but think it might end up being overused like Archie.

Disenchanted3 · 03/11/2009 15:51

Frank is a name in its own Right, My Grandad was Frank

Great name

Bubbaluv · 03/11/2009 15:49

With Frank I just think of Frank Spencer, so that would be out for me.

lucyy123 · 03/11/2009 15:34

Leo much better than Frank

liliputlady · 03/11/2009 08:52

Actually I like all three of your choices and none of them are overused. I never thought of Frank as not being a name in it's own right.

I think Michael would inevitably get shortened. I chose very simple names for my DDs that I thought were unshortenable, but their friends still manage it and actually, I don't mind now anyway!

Your three names all have a really different feel to them, so may be you just need to see which one suits baby when he arrives. Good luck!

Brightfield · 03/11/2009 00:00

Francis NN Frank would be my choice. Leo doesn't do much for me.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 02/11/2009 23:58

I like Francis as a name, with Frank as an abbreviation.

I always prefer the full version of names (at least for the birth certificate and to give the child more choice in the matter when older). Maybe people around here are particularly precious about names, but all the children seem to be known by the full versions of their names (Joseph and Abigail, not Joe and Abi) so I think if you introduced your son as Michael he would remain a Michael. Which is a fine name.

LilyBolero · 02/11/2009 23:24

I have a Michael, and although generally I'm not keen on nicknames, I do find myself calling him Mikey, which is quite cute! Not keen on Mickey or Mike, but Mikey is sweet.

MrsWoolf · 02/11/2009 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

megonthemoon · 02/11/2009 13:44

I have a Leo so I love that (and peanutbutterkid - it is a name in its own right, not just a nickname name - there were many popes called Leo!). But I also love Francis - would have it if my DH didn't like it.

Would DH consent to Francis as middle name? Then he could be Leo Francis and if it ends up that you all prefer to call him Frank then he already has both names? Best of all worlds!

Baconsarnie · 02/11/2009 13:40

Frank is totally fine in its own right, IMHO. Like Leo, but love Frank!

jellybeans · 02/11/2009 13:34

Much prefer Leo but Frank is OK in it's own right.

gladders · 02/11/2009 12:43

wow - this is exactly same dilemma my friend had - baby was Leo for two days and has been frankie ever since - is frank in his birth certificate.

FWIW I think Frank is a great name - frankie is perfect for a little boy - go for it!

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