Fanny
Fanny is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Free or from France.
Origin and history
Fanny originated as a French diminutive of Frances or Stephanie, ultimately deriving from Latin roots meaning 'free' or 'from France'. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its modern U.S. usage has significantly declined. Today it is viewed as a vintage, traditional name.
Popularity in the United States
9,654 babies in the United States have been named Fanny since 1880. It ranks #1686 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1979.
States where it is most popular
- NY (41.4 %)
- CA (15.1 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
- KY (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 716 |
| 1890-1900 | 860 |
| 1900-1910 | 768 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,662 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,735 |
| 1930-1940 | 791 |
| 1940-1950 | 384 |
| 1950-1960 | 308 |
| 1960-1970 | 256 |
| 1970-1980 | 373 |
| 1980-1990 | 450 |
| 1990-2000 | 567 |
| 2000-2010 | 398 |
| 2010-2019 | 264 |
| 2020-2029 | 122 |
Famous people named Fanny
- Fanny Mendelssohn: Composer, Pianist
- Fanny Flagg: Author, Actress
- Fanny Crosby: Hymnwriter, Poet
Fun facts
- Fanny Price is the heroine of Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park.
- Originally coined as a familiar pet form of Frances or Stephanie in 18th-century Europe.