Fanny

I think it's cute and sweet!

Everyone is talking about the slang word... but I'll have you know that there are people in the world who speak other languages than English! What a novelty. ;) ;)

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In many languages, it has no vulgar meaning at all. It is used in French (and was quite popular in Québec in the 80s and 90s), but also it seems to exist in Spanish, Swedish and Finnish (spelled as Fanni). If a person lives in a society and culture where the name is common and NOT associated with an offensive word, then it's a perfectly cute name.

This as a name isn’t great but I guess it could be nice as a nickname.

I have always found the name Fanny laughable. In English slang, it can refer to a person's gluteus Maximus or butt. In the UK and Australia, it’s a derogatory slander word for vagina or vulva. I was recently at a dog park and this owner called for her dog to come to her and she yelled out “Fanny Come.” I would not wish this name on anyone, especially a child. The ridicule that child would face would be reason enough not to name the child Fanny. I am a visual person and when I hear the word Fanny, I visualize a butt. I went to school with a girl named Fanny Burns and a guy named Todd Butts. The kidding got so bad they both changed their names.

NO why did it have to be this name used as vulgar slang?
I would like this name if it didn't mean what it means. Too bad...

Sadly, I think of this as the slang term because my mom used this in my childhood. Cute nickname, though.

What a shame that it's a vulgar slang!

In Sweden people name their kids Fanny because it is considered a beautiful normal name. I know some Fanny's that live in or have been to UK/Australia. Sure I understand if the name sounds ugly and very funny if you are from there, because of the how it has become slang. I think it is such a shame. Also, what is the difference really between Annie, Fanny, Stephanie, Tiffany. They all sound similar.

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Anyways I guess people that have a problem with it are not familiar with it being a perfectly okay name in practically all countries except maybe 3.

The people saying no one uses this slang term are very clearly not British or Australian. Only use this name if your child is never going to interact with someone from the UK.

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Anyways this name is pretty ugly, even without the vagina association.

I barely know about the slang nevertheless use it, but it’s an okay name.

Nobody my age even knows about the slang term, and I'm 36! Fanny is such a unique and beautiful name.

It's pretty as hell. Only old people would think of Fanny as a slang term, most young people have never heard of it. So, I think you Fannies out there are good.

Some people are so close-minded! Fanny was used before the slang was used. My great grandma was named Fanny Anne in 1826 (before Fanny became vulgar slang) and my great grandaunt Florence told me once that she was named after their mother, who was named Frances and who died just after great grandma Fanny was born. I like this name, I did hear people use this as slang but not much. When I got older I read Mansfield Park and I got introduced to Fanny Price! I also watched and listened to Fanny Brice when I was in my teens. I think Fanny is a lovely name! But it's best not to name your child Fanny in a country where Fanny is vulgar slang. :( I like Fanny very much :)

This name is actually quite charming and sweet. Too bad it's unusable in English-speaking countries nowadays.

Fanny has a simple, aristocratic sound as I came across it a lot in 1700s-1800s novels. It also reminds me of the phoenix in the 'Harry Potter' saga. All these links make it classic and poetic in my opinion.

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I noticed it is also an English slang but as it is used as a given name in France as well I still considered it beautiful.

It’s slang for butt. Don’t name your children after slangs.

Hi, my name is Fanny, I'm from Belgium, and I live on the French speaking side of the country and here it's absolutely normal that someone is called Fanny. I actually have many friends named like me and it's totally okay here.

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Not a long time ago I learned what it means in English which I thought was not a big deal regarding the fact that I thought it was an ancient word that no one used anymore. But I recently heard that in the UK and Australia it actually is a big deal.

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I think no one should be ashamed of where they come from and if people really want to know you, they'll understand... (you could still be called by a surname like Fan or like my mother called me when I was younger, Nyny).

I like this name in the literature, I can perfectly understand why it was so liked centuries ago, it's cute and girly. It's a bit childish to me, but putting these unlucky associations aside, its sound is not that bad. However the meaning behind the word Fanny destroys this name for me completely and makes it just absolutely unusable in modern times. Unless you're Scandinavian/French/Mexican etc. And are sure you/your child won't ever visit an English-speaking country or just won't care for people's strange comments. I don't come from an English-speaking country, but my main association with this name isn't unfortunately Fanny Price from "Mansfield Park" or other book heroines, but female genitals. Plus I don't think that it is an advantage that it sounds like funny in so many European languages. It makes it funny in a way that I don't think could be funny for a girl with this name.

When I was in middle school, I had a friend named Fanny. She was recently arrived from Uruguay, where apparently Fanny is a perfectly acceptable name. After a few years in the U.S., she realized what we all know, that Fanny is an untenable name in the U.S., and she began going by her middle name, Renee. There was just no other choice. It's not a matter of Americans having to "deal"- we'll deal with no problem, by laughing. You're the one who will have to deal.

Well people, believe it or not but my name is Fanny. I don't really have a problem with it, even though people have given my name a weird meaning. I am planning to move to the US, and they'll just have to deal with it, haha. I like my name because it's a cool and special name. If your name is Fanny as well, just embrace it! It's a part of you, you rock that name!

LOL I can't believe this name is actually rated Good. Oh dear, what has the English speaking world come to?

I can't understand why people start to put good names into slang, and then nobody uses these pretty names. Fanny and Fanni are sweet names in Hungary, too. 10 years ago Fanni was in the 3rd position in the top names. So where people don't speak English it's still a good name. Anyway, the Hungarian pronunciation is FAHN-ni, and it will always be a good name.

Regardless of the slang meaning, this is a very tacky and childish name.

Hmm. At least it's not as bad as Titty.
Don't name your kid this. It was popular then, but now, being named after your butt, your boob, your... part... is a horrible thing.

My name is Fannie short for Frances and I like my name. It's not too bad here in Ireland where we don't really call ladies' private's fannies. I'm 16 by the way. :)

This name would be so charming if it didn't have so many unfortunate connections. It is actually a lovely name. But not only does it mean butt/vagina in English it also sounds like the English word "funny" when pronounced the European (non English speaking countries) way. It also sounds a lot like the German word "Pfanne" which means "frying pan". This name is quite popular in France pronounced Fun-NEE and in Sweden pronounced FUHN-nee.

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I really do think it's charming and if you can't resist using it I suggest naming your daughter Francesca and just calling her Fanny when nobody is around unless strange looks and comments don't bother your or the child.

No matter where you go, this name has a derogatory meaning. There's the American meaning of "butt". But I think the British meaning is worse because it refers to the female genitalia!

No matter where you go in English-speaking countries, this name has a slang meaning you don't want to live with; it's either the ass or the vagina/vulva. Even if this name wasn't used like that, it sure sounds girly, cutesy, and immature, even in European countries like Sweden.

Name her Butt, and get it over with.

I would never be mean to my daughter and name her Fanny. Maybe Francesca, but never Fanny.

I had a great-aunt Fanny. This name reminds me of old people that collect little knick-knacks all over their house and dye their hair blue (not that my aunt Fanny did that, it just does).

An important tidbit for Americans is that in Britain and Australia, "Fanny" does not mean "backside" but "vagina" or "vulva," depending on who defines it. Saying "I'll put it in my Fanny-pack" or "sitting on your Fanny" or other such things could earn you strange looks.

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The name itself does not bother me, but just imagine all of the flack that the child would go through at the immaturity of others!

Fanny is a horrible name! Eww! Gross!

Ewww! How gross! If my name were Frances, I would go by either Frances or Fran! If you want to name your child this, please think of something else!

What a disgusting name to call your daughter. How sad.

That "disgusting" comment seems a bit out of place considering the name predates the slang. It appears in so many pieces of 18th and 19th century literature and was really popular at the time, but I just hate it. In the stories I've written, since occasionally I feel I have to use it because it was just that popular, I always give it to the characters I hate most.

I like the spelling of the name but the English pronunciation sucks. In Sweden we pronounce this name FUN-ee, like in the pronunciation of the word funny, much better in my opinion because of what it means in English. Too bad.

I do not like the name, and would not like it even if it didn't mean bottom.

Who'd want to name their child after a lady's front bottom?

This name used to be OK, but now you wouldn't dream of calling your child it, would you?