FRANCES  

Gender: F
Origin: Latin
Meaning: "from France or free man"

Popularity in 2008: #796

This soft and gentle classic, last popular a hundred years ago, was as faded as old wallpaper until such hip parents as Courtney Love, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, Brooke Shields, Amanda Peet, and Kate Spade picked it as a first or middle name for their daughters.

Variations:
Franzetta, Frannie, Franny, Francie, Fran, Francis, Fancy, Fronia, Fannie, Fan, Francique, Francille, Fanechka, Franzi, Franceen, Franki, Frankie, Franci, Franze, Fani, Fancie, Fanchette, Franky, France, Francys, Fransabelle, Fancey, Fannia, Fanni, Francina, Fanny, Fania, Franni

International Variations:
Franette, Fanchon, Francine, Françoise (French) Ziska, Franziska (German) Proinséas (Irish Gaelic) Francesca, Franca (Italian) Franka (Russian) Fanya (Slavic) Paquita, Francisca (Spanish)

People who like Frances also like:

Alice, Cecily, Clara, Clementine, Evangeline, Josephine, Isla, Jane, Maeve, Olive, Penelope, Rose, James, Oscar, Simon

Frances is being discussed in our message boards:

• A thought
• Best of British - some Telegraph birth announcements
• name help... emily or mia?
• Does your baby or child have a really unusual name?
• Rosie and Jasper, nee Baby and Jontee

Read Nameberry blog posts about Frances:

• STAGE NAMES: Would You Change Your Name for Fame?
• OLD LADY NAMES: Ready for the Next Wave?
• THE CUTEST CELEBRITY BABY NAMES
• BABY NAME FEVER
• NAMEBERRY FAVES: The names nameberryites love most