Fanni/Fanny - both inappropriate?

[YoungLadyFromScandinavia]

Sorry for my bad English, I'm not a native English speaker and neither have my English grades been high. So I guess there are a lot of mistakes in this post.

I'm from Finland where the name Fanni/Fanny is a quite usual name. I know many girls and women who are named Fanni or Fanny. It's my name too, written with "I" as the last letter. For the last few days I have read much opinions about my name. This hasn't been very fun... I have read that the name "Fanny" means in the UK female genitals, and is considered very vulgar. Many Finnish people also think that it's not anymore a good idea to give that name to babies, since the world has become more international and English is a so well-known language. Do you think it saves anything if the name is written "Fanni" and not "Fanny"? It would be nice to read honest opinions. smile

Haha, I guess I'm over -emotional since I cried yesterday a little because I felt that my name was ruined.

Sorry for writing this question in this discussion area, I'm not sure if this is the right area for this question.

There's worse names than Fanni. If I were you though, I would get people to refer to you as Anni whilst living in the UK. If you start putting Anni at the end of e-mails and introducing yourself as Anni, people will soon catch on and call you that. It would only be formally that you'd be called by your actual name and who cares about that. I think you just want to avoid that social aspect of people sniggering at Fanni. I wouldn't but then I would maybe go home and say to my husband that I met a Fanni and make a joke about it, you know, because people are quite childish and banter here a lot

Thank you for telling your thoughts about this and for being supportive and opening the English speaking culture. Maybe if I someday visit the UK or have to work in international surroundings I will use my second or third name, or call myself Frances or Stephanie.

It is imo quite unlikely to matter in a work context. Particularly not an international one.

I really wouldn't give the name to a child but seeing as you are presumably quite unlikely to become a victim of playground bullying...

(that's obviously simply my opinion. I'm not a Brit myself but I do work with quite a few British people... And even live with one. )

There’s a popular indie singer at the moment in Australia called Fanny Lumsden. Her merch reads ‘I love Fanny’!

I’d hope that adults could be mature enough not to laugh at other people’s names! Particularly those from other countries! I’d be horrified if I found out anyone I managed was laughing at someone behind their back because of a name. I thankfully work in a very diverse organisation with people from around the world, so none of us bat an eyelid at what we would consider unusual names in the UK. You rock your name OP.

I don’t get people saying Fanny is a rude word either, it’s just slang.

Well, this is an old thread but as I have now started to study spoken English, this has become a current question. We have a native English speaking teacher in our class, and he is really nice and polite. I'm afraid my behaviour was a bit rude and weird when I corrected his pronunciation to the Finnish style - more like "funny" or "fun - neeh", not " fa-nee." I myself pronounce English very badly, so it might have been a comical move from me to tell someone how to pronounce a name. I think I will just ignore this uncomfortable fact according to my name on the upcoming lessons.

I think it was commonly used in the past as a diminutive for Frances,

It's very Victorian My granny's grandmother was Frances, called Fanny. My grandfather's sister was also Fanny.

I don’t think you were rude to correct his pronunciation. Anyone would correct if a name was said incorrectly. E.g. someone pronounces a name Eevlyn (Evelyn) and you say “it’s pronounced ‘Ev a lyn’ job done.

It's not rude or weird to correct his pronunciation. I have a name that people often pronounce incorrectly so I am used to having to correct people!

Thinking of the ironbru advert "Fanny eh, I like it it,s different.) (After having the drink. Stink to Frances then if child wants to shorten they can.

Calling your DC Anus is illegal in Denmark. Fanni is not that bad in comparison.

E.g. someone pronounces a name Eevlyn (Evelyn) and you say “it’s pronounced ‘Ev a lyn’ job done. Upper/middle class = Eevlyn for both men and women.

OP if you think it’s going to bother you maybe you could go by your second or third name as you previously suggested? Or maybe ‘Fan’
@Supersimkin2 class has nothing to do with the pronunciation of Evelyn. What a strange comment.