Frances
Meaning: Its source is an Ancient Germanic expression meaning "A Frenchman."
Popularity: The name Frances ranked 962nd in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.
This spelling is traditionally reserved for girls. However, in view of its census ranking and the inconspicuousness of its difference from the traditional masculine spelling (Francis with an ''i'') this distinction may be less important in the future.
Narrative: The Franks, a Germanic tribe that conquered the territory now known as France in the 6th century, most likely derived their name from their favorite weapon, a type of spear called a franca. The right to carry that weapon may have indicated full membership in the tribe.
They also might have considered this the privilege of a ''free man,'' and this is yet another interpretation of the name.
None
Teasing Nicknames:
- Bran
- France
- Francesca
- Francisco
- Fritz
Meaning: Its source is an Ancient Germanic expression meaning "French person."
Languages: This girl's name is used in English and French.
Nicknames: Fancy, Fannie, Fanny, Fran, Francee, Francetta, Franci, Francie, Frank, Frankie and Frannie
Compound Forms: Francesanne
Variant Forms: Franceline
Popularity: The name Frances ranked 556th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 47th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.
Narrative: The Franks, a Germanic tribe that conquered the territory now known as France in the 6th century, most likely derived their name from their favorite weapon, a type of spear called a franca. The right to carry that weapon may have indicated full membership in the tribe.
They also might have considered this the privilege of a ''free man,'' and this is yet another interpretation of the name.
Arts and Music
- Frances Jane Crosby (born 1820, died 1915)
American composer who lost her vision during childhood.
- Wrote over 600 hymns (see list of Romantic Composers)
- Frances Preston
- Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame (see list of Country Music Hall of Fame)
Leadership
- Frances P. Bolton (born 1885, died 1977)
American politician.
- Representative, R-Ohio, 1940-69 (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (born 1850, died 1917)
Italian-born American nun and missionary. Known as ''Mother Cabrini.'' The first U.S. citizen canonized by the Roman Catholic church.
- Founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (see list of Religious Leaders)
- Frances Lehman Loeb
Volunteer activist.
- 1978 National Council of Women''s Women of Conscience award winner for her contributions to volunteerism (see list of Women of Conscience Award winners)
- Frances Pauley
African-American civil rights activist.
- 1974 National Council of Women''s Women of Conscience award winner (see list of Women of Conscience Award winners)
- Frances Perkins (born 1882, died 1965)
American social worker and public official. The first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet post. Original name: Fannie Coralie Perkins.
- U.S. Secretary of Labor, 1933-45 (see list of Women Cabinet Members)
- Frances E. Willard (born 1839, died 1898)
American feminist.
- President of the Women''s Christian Temperance Union; president of the National Council of Women, 1890 (see list of Noted Social Reformers and Educators)
Miscellaneous
- Frances Bible
- 1949 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
- Frances Burke
- 1940 Miss America titleholder, representing Pennsylvania (see list of Miss America Winners)
- Frances Folsom Cleveland (born 1864, died 1947)
- Wife of Grover Cleveland, 22nd President (see list of United States First Ladies)
- Frances FitzGerald (born 1940)
American journalist and historian.
- 1967 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
- Schuyler Frances Fox (born 1996)
- Twin daughter of Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan (see list of Famous Twins and Triplets)
- Frances
- Hurricane or tropical storm (see list of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Names)
- Frances Hesselbein
American management expert. Leader of the Girl Scouts of America, 1976-90.
- 1998 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (see list of Presidential Medal of Freedom Winners)
- Frances Perkins (born 1882, died 1965)
American social worker and public official. The first woman to hold a U.S. Cabinet post. Original name: Fannie Coralie Perkins.
- Member of National Women''s Hall of Fame (see list of National Women's Hall of Fame Members)
- Frances Wisebart-Jacobs (born 1843, died 1892)
American social activist.
- Member of National Women''s Hall of Fame (see list of National Women's Hall of Fame Members)
Stage and Screen
- Frances Bavier (born 1902, died 1989)
- Portrayed Aunt Bee Taylor (see list of Actors on ''The Andy Griffith Show'')
- Frances Bean Cobain
- The daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love (see list of see Celebrity Babies)
- Frances Dee
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Played Meg March in the 1933 movie Little Women (see list of Actresses Who Have Played in ''Little Women'')
- Frances Drake (born 1908)
American actress.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Frances Langford
American singer and actress.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (see list of Radio Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Frances McDormand (born 1957)
American actress.
- 1996 Academy Award winner for her performance in Fargo (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actress)
- Frances Rafferty (born 1922)
American actress.
- Portrayed Ruth Henshaw (see list of Actors on ''December Bride'')
- Frances Reid
Actress, producer and director.
- Actress on soap opera ''''Days of Our Lives'''' (see list of Performers on ''Days of Our Lives'')
The Literary World
- Frances Hodgson Burnett (born 1849, died 1924)
American novelist and playwright.
- Wrote The Secret Garden (see list of Writers of the Victorian Era (1830-1900))
- Frances FitzGerald (born 1940)
American journalist and historian.
- 1973 National Book Award winner for Nonfiction, for Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam (see list of Winners of the National Book Award for Nonfiction)
- 1973 Pulitzer Prize winner for General Nonfiction, for Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction)
- Frances Goodrich (born 1891, died 1984)
American playwright and screenwriter.
- 1956 Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama, for The Diary of Anne Frank (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama)
- Frances E. W. Harper (born 1825, died 1911)
American poet and novelist.
- Known for her abolitionist verse (see list of Poets of the Victorian Era)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Bran
- France
- Francie Pants
- Francesca
- Francisco
- Frankenstein
- Frances-pit
- Frances the Talking Mule
