Is Francesca too similar to Frances?

[SquashyMummy]

We're expecting a little girl and the top of my shortlist is Francesca. It's just dawned on me that I have an aunt called Frances and some family might consider it almost the same name. My preference is for 'Cesca' as a nickname so I hadn't really been thinking of the 'Fran' similarity.

Would you consider it too similar?

It's a lovely name! And not too similar. If there are any queries from the family try to make it a compliment to Aunt (or tell them it's nothing to do with them!)

It’s not too similar at all to an aunt. It’s actually nice to have a family link.
I thought you were going to say to a sister - now that would be too close!
Love the name Francesca

It’s the same name / differently versions of the same name.

But no, not too similar to her aunt’s name.
And if someone asks... well, say that you’ve always loved the name and anyway, aunt Francis is a great person / certainly didn’t make you dislike the name?

Idk. But would people even ask?

I love the name Francesca, my friend's daughter is called Francesca and it gets shortened to Chezzy!

Not too similar to an aunt.

It's much nicer than Frances!

No it's fine. I thought you were going to say for siblings!

Both are lovely in their own right (though personally I think Frances is lovelier).

Is there any reason why you want to shorten the name to “Cesca” though? It seems a shame when the full name is so lovely in comparison.

Thank you all for your comments. It's probably not too similar then! I also have an uncle called Frank on the other side who is quite unpleasant, but maybe having two connections makes it clearer the name isn't related to either of them.

Obviously I'm aware that the root of the names is the same, but it's more about whether people associate them e.g. Harry and Henry have the same root but are so different I wouldn't think of them as the same name.

I really like the full name Francesca but I'm aware long names often get shortened so I would try to influence the nickname towards 'Cesca' rather than 'Fran.'

It is very similar but does it matter? I actually have the same name as my aunt just because my parents liked it!

It's only too similar if you HATE this aunt and would be very upset at her thinking your child was partially named after her.

☝️☝️☝️WSS

It's fine. I have an Italian friend called Francesca whose name is shortened to Franca - which is another possibility.