The nameFanny
Fanny is an old pet form of Frances, with a strong literary past.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Fanny comes from Frances, from the Latin Franciscus, "Frenchman".
Origin
English.
History
In the United States Fanny reached 183rd place in 1880. It is now very rare in Britain, where the word has a vulgar slang meaning.
Fanny in other languages
Fanny began in English as a pet form of Frances. Other languages use Francesca in Italian, Francisca in Spanish, Franziska in German and Françoise in French. Marcel Pagnol made Fanny the heroine of his Marseille trilogy.
Did you know?
- Several works by the composer Fanny Mendelssohn were first published under the name of her brother Felix.
Famous people named Fanny
- Fanny Burney, novelist
- Fanny Mendelssohn, composer
- Fanny Price, heroine of Mansfield Park
Popularity of the name Fanny
Fanny in the United States
Fanny was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 1,735 births over the decade, 18% of all recorded babies named Fanny. Half of all babies named Fanny in the United States were born before 1924, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 21 births a year on average, against 27 in the five years before.
Fanny in France
Fanny was most popular in France in the 1980s, with 27,650 births over the decade, 34% of all recorded babies named Fanny. Its rise began around 1971, and it peaked in 1987. Half of all babies named Fanny in France were born before 1988, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 61 births a year on average, against 177 in the five years before.
Fanny in Belgium
Fanny in Switzerland
Fanny in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Fanny
Names from the same generation as Fanny, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Fanny? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Fanny with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Fanny side by side with the name of your choice.
Fanny in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fanny mean?
Fanny comes from Frances, from the Latin Franciscus, "Frenchman".
What is the origin of the name Fanny?
English.
Is Fanny a girl's or a boy's name?
Fanny is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Fanny?
In 2024, Fanny was the 5233rd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 25 births.
What are the variants of the name Fanny?
Variants and related names of Fanny include Fany.
What are good sibling names for Fanny?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Thelma, Debbie, Kimberley and Leanne for a sister, Willy, Tim, Leeroy and Mathieu for a brother.
Who are famous people named Fanny?
Fanny Burney, novelist; Fanny Mendelssohn, composer; Fanny Price, heroine of Mansfield Park.