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Francis

54 replies

MamaKatey12 · 06/08/2025 11:50

Please either help me to make my mind up or change my mind.

I love Francis DH is half on board with the nn Frank but thinks Francis is quite wet and the nn Fran very wet

please help I have 3 weeks to go and no other names

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AllPlayedOut · 06/08/2025 11:53

It’s a no for me. Francis is very wet and Frank has such an ugly and harsh sound.

Sue763 · 06/08/2025 11:56

I'm with your DH tbh, to me Francis is a girls name because I grew up with a friend called Frances. So to me it's very girly and wet for a boy.

StrictlySequinsandStiIettos · 06/08/2025 12:01

Black Francis - Frank Black
Hell yeah!
Pope Francis - the best pope
Francis from Malcolm in the middle

I teach a few Frankies
I am less keen on Frank/Frankie as I am old enough to remember Some mothers do 'ave 'em and Frankie Howard/Boyle (and Sister Sledge!)
and Frank is also a drugs helpline iirc
But no new generation knows these references

Francis is lovely
Frank/Frankie are okay
The only area of agreement is Fran for a girl, although Fran Healy would disagree...

LondonLady1980 · 06/08/2025 12:03

How about Frasier?

Please don’t call your son Francis.

Coffeechocolatebooks123 · 06/08/2025 12:08

AllPlayedOut · 06/08/2025 11:53

It’s a no for me. Francis is very wet and Frank has such an ugly and harsh sound.

Completely agree!

MissyB1 · 06/08/2025 12:10

I love Francis - but I’m from a catholic background and knew lots of them at school. I know a little boy called Fran, he’s Scottish it’s not unusual there I believe. Anyway nothing wrong with Francis/Frank / Fran.

ginasevern · 06/08/2025 12:10

I think Francis is a good name. Classic, classy and won't be a stereotype from any particular era. I also like Frank as the shortened version. I've never, ever known it shortened to Fran.

AllPlayedOut · 06/08/2025 12:13

I’m Scottish and I’ve never met a boy/man called Fran. I’d find it odd. They’re all either Frank or stick with Francis. There may be a few around(Fran Healy ) but I wouldn’t say that it’s common. At least in my area.

Novanonplus · 06/08/2025 12:46

Don’t see the appeal. It’s twee and very wet

LucasBuck · 06/08/2025 17:10

Fran just sounds too feminine imo. Even Francis does sound a little bit that way, I must admit. Maybe it’s the “cis” sound? 🤔 But I like that it’s a classic and has a Kingly elegance.

Frank on the other hand goes to the opposite and has a harsh feel. However Frank is on the rise/becoming trendy so I really doubt there would be any teasing, even with Francis on the BC these days.

Gffbjjgfddbjkkm · 06/08/2025 17:12

Francis is a drip's name. Makes me think of the vicar on This Country

DollyMixers · 06/08/2025 17:14

I personally love Francis but not keen on nickname Frank. 🤷‍♀️

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 06/08/2025 17:32

I've never heard of a male Francis called Fran, always Frank.

Daffodilsarefading · 06/08/2025 17:34

I like Francis. I don’t like Frank, it’s too old fashioned for me and not in a good way.

DiscoBob · 06/08/2025 17:35

I love Frank, Frankie and Franklin/Franklyn.
Or Francesca for a girl, Francesco for a boy.

But not so much Francis. It kind of sounds like the person would be really uptight and unsexy, unexciting as an adult. That's not really fair but it's not an attractive seeming name. I guess maybe I'm not keen on the female Frances either.

But again Frank, Frankie etc are really cute; the latter for both sexes.

comfyshoes2022 · 06/08/2025 17:50

I love Francis. I don’t like Frank. Francis reads as Catholic to me - not sure if that’s good, bad, or irrelevant.

Moreteaandchocolate · 06/08/2025 18:41

Francis sounds feminine to me because the only ones I know irl are female (I know the spelling is Frances but the name sounds the same).

Frank is fine as a name in its own right. I think most secondary school boys would prefer Frank to Francis to be called out on the register!

NoVibrato · 06/08/2025 23:43

Novanonplus · 06/08/2025 12:46

Don’t see the appeal. It’s twee and very wet

Sure, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Francis Chichester were very wet. One circumnavigated the Globe in the reign of Elizabeth II, the other in the reign of Elizabeth I (solo on a yacht in his case). Thus lots of water surrounding each chap.
Francis is an elegant name and there's nowt wrong with that.

Enough4me · 06/08/2025 23:48

Boys have to face other boys at school and they can be cruel. It would influence my decision away from Francis.
My uncle refused the name his whole life.

Calliopespa · 07/08/2025 00:33

It's a name that hasn't been used much for boys for a while, but it has potential to be popular again I think. It's a good, old-fashioned name.

I know a few young Franks. I wouldn't use that as a BC name, so Francis is reasonable choice I think.

Would you consider shortening it to Franc as a nn? It links slightly better to Francis, avoids the Frank Spencer vibe a bit and gives it a European feel.

I can see why people think its maybe a bit wet. I think its most likely the connection with Frances.

But if you like it, I think it's quite a nice way of choosing something not over-used.

RogueFemale · 10/08/2025 00:45

Ignore the naysayers. Francis is great and it's not at all wet. Think Francis Bacon, Francis of Assisi

healthanxietynightmare · 10/08/2025 00:48

No

SnowFrogJelly · 10/08/2025 01:04

Dated.. prefer Frank

hattie43 · 10/08/2025 04:50

No . Frank is a Bulldogs name not a child and Francis is just horrible .

andfinallyhereweare · 10/08/2025 05:40

Love it! Love love love it!

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