Fanny

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Fanny

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English.
Etymology:
Fanny is short for Frances, the feminine form of Francis. It originally comes from the Franks, a Germanic tribe in Western Europe with a name which meant “free.” Their name gave rise to the word and surname Franklin, or “freeman.” The Franks eventually settled in what is now called France. In England (about 1200), Francis arose as a nickname for a Frenchman

History:
Fanny first appeared in the early 18th century as another form of Franny. It was highly common in the 18th and early 19th century, but lately has suffered from the slang word “fanny” meaning “rear-end.”

Pronunciation: fan-ee

Alternates: Fannie.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Frances “Fanny” Burney (1752-1840)
English author.
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
German pianist.
Fanny Lewald (1811-1889)
German novelist.
Francesca “Fanny” Cerrito (1817-1909)
Italian ballerina.
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
American composer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Fanny Jackson Coppin (1837-1913)
American educator.

Miscellaneous:
Fanny Blankers-Koen (1918-)
Dutch Olympic athlete.

Singers and Entertainers:
Fanny Abington (1737-1815)
English actress.
Fanny Kemble (1809-1893)
English actress.
Fanny Lily Gypsy Davenport (1850-1898)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.050 % named Fannie
0.009 % named Fanny

Popularity of Fanny:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 42nd most popular.
1850: 45th most popular.
1875: 66th most popular.
1900-1910: 329th most popular.
1910-1920: 416th most popular.
1920-1930: 544th most popular.
1930-1940: 857th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A

In France...
1900: 101st most popular.
1910: 168th most popular.
1916: 180th most popular.
1920-1960: N/A
1969: 179th most popular.
1970: 157th most popular.
1980: 43rd most popular.
1990: 28th most popular.
2000: 64th most popular.