Have you ever heard of this nickname?

[Harriet428]

Franca

It’s what the pizza restaurant chain Franca manga is nicknamed/shortened to, if that’s what you mean..?

No. Probably because it sounds like wanker. Please don’t do it.

I used to know an Italian woman called Franca, I only knew her socially though so no idea if it was her given name or a diminutive.

Yes I only like it as a nickname for Francesca

You mean Franco Manca? I live near the original and never heard anyone called it 'Franca'.

Presumably it would be more common in. Italy as a nickname for Francesca?

Cesca or Fran are possibly nicer nicknames.

Yes I know a woman called Franca. She is Italian heritage.

We are in Scotland so Franca and Wanker sound sort of similar of but not really, as you would pronounce is Fran-kah versus Wan-ker

I know an European Franca, it's her full name.

It’s what all the kids call it around me - it’s the MC ‘cheeky Nandos’ - “can we go for a Franca?”

I've never met a Franca personally but I know it is a recognised name in Europe. Wasn't the editor of Italian Vogue named Franca? I don't know if that's a nickname or her legal name.

It’s what the pizza restaurant chain Franca manga is nicknamed/shortened to, if that’s what you mean..

Ain't no chain called that! 😆

Yes, because I'm in Italy.
It's a very old-fashioned nickname for Francesca. They are all over 75.

That would make sense as the Franca I knew would be long retired by now. I'm curious to know if that means it has old-lady-chic now in the same way that names like Elsie and Edith are back in style in the UK.

I'm not sure there is such a thing here tbh.
There is a list of names that, if you hear, you know the person has been named after a grandparent. (the recipient is rarely happy about this!)
All the Francescas I know who have nicknames are: Fra, Francy, Chicca, (Kikka) or Checca (Kekka).
Interestingly, thinking about it, Franco for Francesco is also old fashioned but not quite as much as Franca. My BIL is Franco and he's 50 something. Younger Francescos tend to be Ciccio (Cheecho) or not shortened at all.

DD has an Italian middle name that she hates because it's a "granny" name. (Caterina)

The Franca I know is 40, she is the only one I know so don't associate it with being for older ladies.