Francis - boys name and nicknames?!

[lydiangel83]

Hi all

Starting to think about baby names - just wanted to test whether you would assume Francis is a boys name or a girls name?

We really like Frank/ Frankie for a boy, maybe Francesca for a girl. But what can you call a baby boy that results in nickname Frankie other than Francis (which less keen on)? I know we could just call him Frankie however want a more traditional name I think.

Thoughts welcome :-)

Francis is a boy's name. Frances is a girl's name.

Just go for Frank if you don't like Francis.

The only variant I can think of is Franklin/ Franklyn.

I think frankie is meant to be a nn for frank. Frankie is a name in its own right now, but if you want something official for the birth certificate Francis works well.

Franklin is lovely imho.

I know 2 Franklin's, one of which is Frank and the other Frankie.
I think all 3 of them are great names

Franklin

Francis is definitely the masculine spelling, Frances is the feminine. I loved the name Frankie, but it didn't go with the surname so I couldn't. Francis unfortunately gets shortened to Frannie rather than Frankie where I live too, or worse Francie. Franklin is a good suggestion!

I know an adult Francis nn Frankie.

I like Franklin. Frank is ok as well, and you can always call him Frankie. The only Frankies I know in real life are women in their mid-30s, one is Frances officially and the other is 'just' Frankie.

Thanks all! Suddenly having second thoughts about Frankie as realised it sounds like hankie!!

We have no other boys names that we both like!!

I love the name Francis, I would shorten it to Fran, actually I know a little boy who was Christened Fran (not short for anything).

A lot of names/abbreviations sound like other things... Mary -hairy, scary, fairy.
Frankie rhymes with hankie but doesn't sound like it in my view.
People calling their DDs Ruby probably aren't put off by it sounding like boobie
Our DS is Logan and often nn Logie - I did think he might get Logie bogie in the playground but there are worse things!
Franklin is a good strong name. As is Frank. If you like it, go for it.

Sorry OP I realise your initial question was re Francis which I think is a beautiful name for a boy, and very adaptable depending on the type of child/man they turn out to be. Francis seems quite a gentle, artistic sort of a name (obviously I am projecting massively!) but he can be Frank/Frankie if he likes. Great choice.

I love Francis.
I also love Fran as a name. It's for a youngster or a grown up. In fact I'm lobbying for it for our third team yellow shortlist

Francis for a boy, Frances for a girl.

If you are thinking Francesca for a girl how about Francesco for a boy. They could both be shortened to Frankie.

Just Frank.

Thanks all :) made me feel better about Frankie! And I would love Francesco @GoulashSoup but DH wouldn't go for that - hence Francis as a compromise :)

Frances is a girls name, Francis is a boys name. I would go with the NN Frank/Frankie for it. For me it's a bit too weak sounding a name. However it is not too popular or too unusual and I don't think you'd make any assumptions about an Francis, go for it.

Francis is all male. I think it's great, an underused gem. I however dislike Frankie, sounds very feminine to me. Another option for Frankie though could be Franklin

Or Francois?