Find out how popular the first name Fanny has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Fanny by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Fanny is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Fanny.

The history of the first name Fanny

The name Fanny originated from the Medieval French feminine diminutive form of the name Frances or Francis. It was derived from the Late Latin name Francisca, which was originally an ethnic name meaning "Frankish" or "French". The name Frances itself evolved from the Germanic name Franc, referring to the Franks, a Germanic tribe that founded the ancient Frankish Empire.

In the late Middle Ages, the name Fanny gained popularity across Europe, particularly in England, France, and parts of Germany. It was often used as a nickname or pet form for the more formal name Frances. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Fanny can be found in the 14th-century French poem "Roman de la Rose" by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Fanny. In the 18th century, Fanny Burney (1752-1840) was an English novelist and diarist, best known for her novels "Evelina" and "Cecilia". Another famous Fanny was Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847), the sister of the renowned German composer Felix Mendelssohn and an accomplished pianist and composer in her own right.

In the 19th century, Fanny Kemble (1809-1893) was a British actress and author, known for her performances in Shakespeare's plays and her memoir "Records of a Girlhood". Fanny Lewald (1811-1889) was a German writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and published several novels and short stories.

In the 20th century, Fanny Cradock (1909-1994) was a British television chef and author, renowned for her elaborate cooking demonstrations and cookbook "The Practical Cook".

While the name Fanny has been less common in recent decades, it still holds a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in its origins as a diminutive form of the name Frances, with roots in the Frankish Empire and Medieval Europe.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Fanny was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Fanny, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!