Fanny

Fanny is an English diminutive of Frances, itself the feminine form of Francis, which derives from the Medieval Latin Franciscus, meaning "Frankish" or "from Francia." The name gained widespread use in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and was borne by notable figures such as the English diarist and novelist Fanny Burney and the American actress Fanny Brice. It functioned as an independent given name throughout the English-speaking world during this period, though its popularity declined in the twentieth century partly due to its acquisition of slang meanings. Related forms include Frances, Francesca, and Francine.