Alternatives to Frances?

[lila_fowler]

Hi all!
We're expecting a girl, and I couldn't be more thrilled. My ultimate favorite girl's name for at least the last decade is Frances. I love the way it's spelled, I love the way it sounds, I love the nn's Franny and Frankie, and I love the Salinger character.
NOW, my husband has a VERY strong association with this name that I need to respect and thus, it is sadly out of the running.
I ADORE the name Fern, and Francine is really growing on me (and has the added bonus of the Frankie/Franny nn's), but husband is lukewarm on both.
Phoebe, Florence and Flora are all lovely but really don't sound great with the last name.
One name that strongly appeals to both of us is Felix, but I read a nameberry post with such strong opinions about the name on a girl, that it's scaring me off a little. I would hate for my little girl to go through life hating her name.
Other names we really like are Roxy, Daphne, Charlie, Susannah and Ramona.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your help, all!

[pansy]

What about Francesca? It's similar to Frances and you'd still be able to use the nicknames Franny and Frankie.

[mischa]

I love Frances too! Have you asked your husband about some other variations like Francesca or Franca? From your list, I like Daphne, Susannah, Roxanna (nn Roxy), Ramona and Fern (mn). Charlie is a spunky nn for Charlotte for me and I don't find Felix very attractive for a girl. Here are some other suggestions.

Helen/Helena
Alice
Dorothy
Mabel
Martha
Sylvia
Vera
Estella/Estelle/Stella
Ada
Josephine
Gemma
Vivian
Lilian
Violet
Willa
Persephone
Cecily
Eleanor
Ruby
Sophie
Amelia
Abigail
Eliza
Hazel
Isabel
Audrey
Dinah
Miriam
Ruth
Lydia
Louisa/Louise
Tabitha
Felicity
Aurelia
Theodora
Cordelia
Verity
Philippa
Beatrix
Lucille/Lucy
Clementine
Celeste
Matilda

[bre]

The only one I can think of is Francesca, but that may be still to close to Frances for your husband. I personally love Daphne from your list of names. I'm not fond of Felix for a girl, I really think that it would be a great name for a boy. One of the issues that I hear commonly is that a lot of great boy names are taken over to the girl side, and after awhile the name sounds solely feminine. The issue with this is there aren't as many great boy names and there are thousands upon thousands of great girl names.

[lila_fowler]

Thank you for the suggestions, all! Unfortunately Francesca is more classic than vintagey for me (I like names that are slightly homespun American sounding), though paradoxically Daphne falls in the former camp, yet I do love it. Mischa, thanks for the awesome list! I have a lot to chew on. Dinah is so fun, I haven't heard that one in awhile and find myself really liking it.

[jellyfish]

I agree that Felix on a girl would be tough...what about Felice instead?

[ellenelle]

Or Felicity instead of Felix?

[teacherma]

Alternatives to Frances:

Franziska or Francisca might appeal to you. Marie-France is another one that might work.


Alternatives to Felix:

Some sources that I have state that Felixa is a rare old Latin name. I also think Feliciana, Felicienne, and Felicity are worth suggesting. Other names that I think could be appealing: Fidelia, Faline, Faustine /Faustina (which mean "lucky", similarly to Felix's meaning of fortunate).

[hazelybasily]

I love Ramona and Daphne! Some other ideas:

Georgia
Clementine
Fiona
Fallon
Fritzie
Luella
Beverly
Birdie
Cadence
Johanna
Kincaid
Shelby
Ruby
Pomona

[saraallison]

Maybe would your hubby go for a double fn with Frances, like Anna-Frances, hyphen or no hyphen, as you like it? We almost used Anna Frances with our dd, and I still love it, and you could still use the nns you love! My cousin is planning to use Mary-Frances, which I think is really cute. We ended up putting Frances as our dd's mn and love it. If your hubby doesn't love Frances, at least with a name like Anna -Frances, he could call her the whole name or Anna, and you still get your Franny/Frankie!