Frances

Frances is the feminine form of Francis, derived from the medieval Latin name Franciscus, meaning "Frankish" or "from Francia," originally an ethnic designation referring to the Germanic Frankish people. The name gained widespread use through the influence of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose fame spread the masculine form across Europe, drawing the feminine variant along with it. Notable bearers include Frances Hodgson Burnett, the British-American author, and Saint Frances of Rome, a fifteenth-century mystic. Related forms include Francesca, Françoise, Francine, and Fanny.