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Nancy
I fell in love with the name Nancy last year when my English teacher suggested I read the biography of Nancy Wake for a reading log. She was a really prolific resistance fighter during WWII and was codenamed 'The White Mouse' by the Germans. You can read a little about her here if you are curious: http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/wake.html (Plus isn't that picture beautiful?).So lately I have kinda been infatuated with having a little baby Nancy. Cute, right? But I am kinda bothered by the fact that it is a nickname.So this is what I have come up with as full names for Nancy:
Anne, the obvious. I probably wouldn't use this though, for a variety of reasons.
Constance. This was the name of my great-grandmother, so it would be honouring her also (and she was pretty great too).
Just Nancy on it's own, which I think is fine.
Francine/ Frances. I am really curious how everybody pronounces these. I have always said FRAHN-ses, but BtN says FRAN-ses and fran-SEEN which I think would work well for NN Nancy.In summary: WDYTO Nancy? What do you like it best as a NN for (Or not as a NN at all)? How do you pronounce Frances/ Francine? Do you have any combo ideas for Nancy or any of her full forms?TIA!
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My name is Nancy, and I have always loved it. It has never really come up that it's a nickname for anything; I have found that most people I meet consider it as a name that stands on its own. I think it's a cute name without sounding old fashioned, and not overly cutesy for an adult. It's also not so common that every little girl has the name, and I don't recall any major teasing about it as a child. And now that there are the "Fancy Nancy" children's books, she would have her own first reading list :) There are a lot of short middle names that go well like Faye, Kaye, Kate, etc.
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I love Nancy! It's a GP of mine.I can't see Anne "Nancy" working nowadays. Constance seems like a bit of a stretch.
Frances could work. I pronounce them both 'Fran-' not 'Frahn-', but I think it depends on your accent.

This message was edited 2/26/2009, 2:58 AM

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I love, love, love this name! I had an "adopted" grandmother with this name and I was named after her (both have the mn Kate). Needless to say I think it's a beautiful name and could definitely see it on a little girl these days. I also think it's fine as a full name, no problems there.
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I really like Nancy and I think it stands well enough alone. I haven't met a Nancy who used that only as a nickname. I sort of like the Constance idea since Nancy somewhat reminds me of Constance anyway for some odd reason.Thanks for sharing the article. I had never heard of Nancy Wake and her biography sounds like something I would like to read.
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I love Nancy. I'd use it as a name on it's own.
Pronounciations-
Frances-France(like the country)-ess.
Francine-As I live in a French-speaking area, I tend to use the French pronounciation.
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Every Nancy I've ever known was just Nancy. I don't see anything wrong with using it instead of a more formal version.
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I love Nancy. I know one who is about 18 which brings new light to it for me. I really like it on its own or as a nickname to Anne. Frances could work too, I have never thought of that. I say Fran-ses and Fran-seen. I am not a big fan of Constance but I like the sentiment.
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Nancy Wake was so pretty. I think she kind of resembles Vivien Leigh in that first picture.I think it would be refreshing to meet a little Nancy. It doesn't bother me that Nancy was originally a nickname. I've heard of plenty of people with Nancy as a full name.Nancy could work as a NN for Frances or Francine (I pronounce them FRAN-ses and fran-SEEN). I prefer just Nancy though. Something formal would be nice as a MN. Ideas:
Nancy Aurelia
Nancy Olivia
Nancy Elizabeth
Nancy Pearl
Nancy Genevieve
Nancy Guinevere
Nancy Gwendolen
Nancy Ophelia
Nancy Cordelia
Nancy Evelyn / Eveline
Nancy Lorraine
Nancy Eleanor
Nancy Eleanora / Eleonora / Elenora
Nancy Caroline
Nancy Helena
Nancy Victoria
Nancy Veronica
Nancy Bernadette

This message was edited 2/25/2009, 6:23 PM

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I seriously cannot see how Nancy is a nickname of Anne. That's just me regardless of how it is in history it makes no sense to me but that's just me.I view Nancy as a separate name period, I;ve never heard of an Anne going by Nancy at all. I love Nancy as a full FN. I'd love to meet a baby Nancy.

This message was edited 2/25/2009, 6:39 PM

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I've always admired Nancy -- it would be so refreshing on a young girl!Although I'm indescribably enamored of Frances (strictly pronounced "FRAN-ses"), I only enjoy Nancy as a nickname for Anne.
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Nowadays, Nancy doesn't seem so dated to me. I remember I had a classmate named Nancy in college who was about 18 or so at the time. Having a child's name simply as Nancy alone doesn't really bother me, and Constance is quite the underrated name. (but I rather like it)As for how to pronounce Francine and Frances, I've always pronounced them as Fran-SEEN and FRAN-cess (respectively). I also know a Frances, but she often goes by Fran, so that's another possible nickname.
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I think Nancy is okay as a given name, but it would be pretty as a nickname for Anna Cecilia.
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I know a 30something Nancy who hates her name. She grew up in the U.S and felt it was dated then. I don't know any younger Nancies. I think it's ok. I prefer Nan.I like Annis which the database says is the origin of Nancy.I says FRAN-ses and Fran-SEEN.
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First of all I think I am one of the very few people on this board who dont mind "nicknamey" names like Betty, Minnie, Winnie, Jack and Eli as whole names on their own. I am not a fan of Nancy by any means but I think it is beautiful as a name on its own and I think it would be very refreshing to see on a baby girl today.
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I've never been a fan of Nancy. It sounds so whiney to me. Still, I'd love to meet a little one.Constance is a name that doesn't get nearly enough credit. I love it. If you don't mind that it's a bit of a stretch for Nancy, I'd choose this one.Francine and Frances are just alright. I love Francesca, though. If you had Francesca up there I would choose it.I've always said it FRAN-ses and fran-SEEN, like BtN says. I'd only expect the other pronunciations in languages other than English.
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