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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Franklin

26 replies

Geraldine2777 · 05/09/2025 19:57

How popular is this name around you?
Is it a ‘nice’ name?? and finally will every Franklin become Frank as I see them differently and dislike Frank

OP posts:
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Springadorable · 05/09/2025 20:02

Yes, they'll become a Frank. Or Franky maybe. It's not popular around me, but I'd group it in with Arabella type names of people wanting to seem posher than they are 😂

SkaneTos · 05/09/2025 20:11

I like the name Franklin!

I don't know if someone called Franklin definitely will be called Frank.
(I like the name Frank, too.)

AudiobookListener · 05/09/2025 20:11

To me it sounds American, not 'nice' at all.

lilylooleelala · 05/09/2025 20:20

It’s a lovely name! I immediately sing the Franklin The Turtle theme tune. It’s not popular at all but I wish it were. I think it’s classy and wholesome.

DuchessOfNarcissex · 05/09/2025 20:25

AudiobookListener · 05/09/2025 20:11

To me it sounds American, not 'nice' at all.

Same here. Frank is ok, Franklin isn't.

Vitriolinsanity · 05/09/2025 20:28

Love it! But I am a Peanuts fan and always keen on Franklin.

midlifeattheoasis · 05/09/2025 20:32

AudiobookListener · 05/09/2025 20:11

To me it sounds American, not 'nice' at all.

I agree

mathanxiety · 05/09/2025 20:36

AudiobookListener · 05/09/2025 20:11

To me it sounds American, not 'nice' at all.

Is there a difference between American and 'nice'?

mathanxiety · 05/09/2025 20:37

That question is for @midlifeattheoasis too (what's the difference between American and 'nice'?)

mathanxiety · 05/09/2025 20:37

DuchessOfNarcissex · 05/09/2025 20:25

Same here. Frank is ok, Franklin isn't.

What's your issue with 'American'?

MsFogi · 05/09/2025 20:38

Franklin the Turtle!

NoVibrato · 06/09/2025 01:31

AudiobookListener · 05/09/2025 20:11

To me it sounds American, not 'nice' at all.

Well, Franklin D Roosevelt, president of the USA, was actually a pretty good guy. And possibly even nice! And helped a hell of a lot of people during the Depression.

ninjahamster · 06/09/2025 01:32

Not a fan.

AudiobookListener · 06/09/2025 08:48

mathanxiety · 05/09/2025 20:36

Is there a difference between American and 'nice'?

Yes. The OP asked if it is 'nice'. I assume OP is using the quotation marks to suggest posh or classy, which, in my mind is a rather British thing. Have I misunderstood the use of quotation marks? Anyway there is nothing wrong with American-sounding names for American babies.

Geraldine2777 · 06/09/2025 10:51

My baby is not an American baby, we are very british.
I thought Franklin was an old English name
maybe I will think of something else

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 07/09/2025 02:15

Do you like ..
Linden
Colin
Russell
Winston
Walter
Charles
Basil
Craig
Frankeleyn is the original Franklin. Though both are of British origin it is easy to see why it is more popular in US - Benjamin Franklin and Franklin D Roosevelt..

mathanxiety · 07/09/2025 02:22

AudiobookListener · 06/09/2025 08:48

Yes. The OP asked if it is 'nice'. I assume OP is using the quotation marks to suggest posh or classy, which, in my mind is a rather British thing. Have I misunderstood the use of quotation marks? Anyway there is nothing wrong with American-sounding names for American babies.

Good God.

freerangethighs · 07/09/2025 02:43

I like it, but I do also kind of have references with this name - e.g, Franklin from Peanuts, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Franklin Templeton Investments. Those are not necessarily such negative associations to me that they would override my desire to use Franklin if I loved it.

Friends recently (in Scotland) debated using Francis vs Franklin and settled on Francis known as Frank, but it was close. I think that it's very possible to have child called Franklin, known as Franklin (never shortened) early on, but it's pretty likely that at some point his peers may decide to use Fran, Frank, or Frankie so maybe avoid the name if you dislike those established diminutives.

Lifeissodifficult · 07/09/2025 03:03

Turtle

Brummiecurlz173 · 07/09/2025 10:37

a bit clunky, but if you like it go for it. try calling a teddy franklin or as if you were calling him for dinner to test if you really like it. also maybe see if you can hear it in a different accent, or look for a different spelling if this isnt the one youre sure you like

DuchessOfNarcissex · 07/09/2025 11:48

@mathanxiety , I don't have an issue with it being American.
I was agreeing that it sounds American and that it wasn't nice.
The American names are OK for Americans.

Franklin101 · 07/09/2025 11:57

I have a Franklin! I really liked it (obviously!), we really liked Frank but didnt think it was a newborn name 😊 deliberated on Francis too, but he is def a Franklin!
He is nearly 5 and we haven't met any others. We call him Frankie and Frank, no one else shortens it until they have heard us doing so tho (so far!). I like that there are different nicknames for different ages too (he probably won't want to be Frankie when hes 50 for instance, but may want to be Frank)
Also love to sing the Franklin the Turtle theme tune to him 😀
When I call him Frankie at work tho, people do quite often assume he is a girl, not that that matters much

SpiralSpiritSocks · 07/09/2025 11:59

If you don’t like the obvious short form of the name then don’t give it to your child.

You might not like it, but your son might and it will be out of your hands.

Choose a name that you like in all of its versions.

mathanxiety · 10/09/2025 04:46

DuchessOfNarcissex · 07/09/2025 11:48

@mathanxiety , I don't have an issue with it being American.
I was agreeing that it sounds American and that it wasn't nice.
The American names are OK for Americans.

But not 'nice' enough for Brits?

American sounding names are not 'nice'?

Dippythedino · 10/09/2025 04:53

I know a British Franklin, he's in his 30s and very nice. It's not an American name, it's just a name that seems to be used more in the US than here. This means it's rarer over in the UK so there'll be less Franklin's than Jaxon's in the classroom. It's a lovely name and has a gravitas to it.

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