I’m due with a girl in 6 weeks and we know that we want to call our daughter [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. My grandmother’s name is [name_f]Frances[/name_f] and we want to honor her but I am wondering if I am going to be calling her [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] almost 100% of the time if I should even bother putting [name_f]Frances[/name_f] as her name on the birth certificate?
Should I just do it as an option for a more formal name once she gets older or is it more confusing to put a name that won’t be used frequently on the birth certificate?
I am torn and I would like to hear other opinions on the subject!
Thanks in advance!
The combo will be either:
[name_u]Frankie[/name_u] [name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_u]Marion[/name_u]
I’d probably just go with [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. It would mean she has her own name, separare from a relative while still honouring and I think nn names work fine, if they’re the name you’re always going to use
Thank you for your reply!
I agree, especially since my grandma [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is very much still alive and we see her a lot I could see it get confusing at times with them having the same name.
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]! I think either version is fine, but would probably prefer just [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. [name_u]Marion[/name_u] is beautiful as well, and if she ever really needs a more “formal” name she could just revert to that if need be.
Thank you!! We really love it too. That’s a great idea using [name_u]Marion[/name_u] if she wants something more formal. I think that would work out well!
I’d name her [name_f]Frances[/name_f] to give her more options throughout her life. Also, I see your son’s name is [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] – do you call him [name_u]Max[/name_u]? If so, I feel there’s more “symmetry” with [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]/[name_u]Max[/name_u] and [name_f]Frances[/name_f]/[name_u]Frankie[/name_u].
Thank you for your opinion! That was originally our plan but I have just recently started to question it! My husband and I do not call [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] “max” but other relatives do on occasion and I assume schoolmates might in the future.
I agree, I think you should just use [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. It’s such a cute name and I love with with [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m]!
Thank you so much!!
My mom hates it but my husband and I love it so we are sticking with it!
I love [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]! I named my cat [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] and people also joke about how “human” a name it is, otherwise I’ve only received good feedback on the name. You really can’t go wrong!
I think using [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is a better idea - if she decides she wants to go by a different nickname/just go by [name_f]Frances[/name_f] outside of your family when she’s older then I think it’s right to give her that option! I’m a firm believer in giving kids names that can fit them at any age/no matter what career path they choose and I think [name_f]Frances[/name_f] nn [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] is more flexible than [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. 
So cute!! ”
I do want her to have a name that will work well for a life time! I worry about [name_f]Frances[/name_f] working on anyone younger than 60 in the same way that I worry about [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] working on an older person but maybe that is because the only person I know with this name is my 90 year old grandma!
I love [name_u]Frankie[/name_u]. But, I think [name_f]Frances[/name_f] goes better with [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] besides you can still call her [name_u]Frankie[/name_u].
Does [name_f]Frances[/name_f] feel too “old lady” to you or do you think it’s making a come back?
I think [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] [name_u]Marion[/name_u] is your best bet. You obviously like just [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] more than [name_f]Frances[/name_f], and as [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] directly honors [name_f]Frances[/name_f] already, I don’t see the need to add [name_f]Frances[/name_f] at all.
I mean if she wants to have a more ‘formal’ name when older, she could use her middle, or get a bit creative and play around with names from [name_u]Frankie[/name_u], like [name_u]Fran[/name_u], [name_f]Fae[/name_f] or [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. I feel like when her generation gets to a point of professionalism though, there really won’t be too much need for ‘more formal’ names, as there will be so many nickname-y type names out there and it will just become the norm.
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] doesn’t sound too old lady to me at all — it’s one of many vintage names now making a comeback!
Personally, I’d just go with [name_u]Frankie[/name_u] if that’s what you’ll call her. My cousin gave her kids just [name_m]Ben[/name_m] etc because she knew that’s what she’d call them (she has 3 boys, all with the nickname version as their fullname).
I think you’re right! I do like it better and I also agree that there are other nick names or her middle name that could work if she decides it doesn’t work for her! I also see a lot more nicknames being used as full names and I’m sure it will be the norm by the time she has to worry about that.
I know a [name_f]Frances[/name_f] in her 20s and she wears it well. Because your son is [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m] instead of just [name_u]Max[/name_u] I would name her [name_f]Frances[/name_f]. I know you mean nothing by it but it bothers me to see boys receive “full” substantial names and girls receive diminutives or overly whimsical names.