The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Francesca!

Comments and insights on the name Francesca: | Edit

I love this name!! I want to name my little girl this so bad and I feel like its not to popular at all. I think I will use it!

Personal experiences with the name Francesca: | Edit

My name is "Francesca." It is certainly no walk in the park... not a single soul is able to pronounce it, I get called Frankinstein, Franklin, Fran-CHEST-Ca (as a tease suitable for both large- and small-chested girls), Frankfurter, Brittany, and Jessica (where the latar two come from-- I have no clue). Not to mention, it is so extremely Italian ethnic sounding that you must be of Italian heritage to use it, and match it with an Italian surname.

When I was eight years old there was a girl in my dance class named Francesca. For the longest time I thought her name was Fran Jessica.

Growing up I've known 2 Francescas. Both very nice and upstanding and intelligent people. It's funny that the person above me ^^ mentioned that she thought her name was Fran Jessica, because most of the people that I know thought that Francesca was Fran Jessica for a long time. And to this day some people still call her Fran Jessica. lol :D

We named our little girl Francesca, and we are definitely not Italian. Francis is a family name, though, and that's where we got it. We have had some pronunciation problems, which surprised me. I mean, it's not like we made up a name. I know it's not super-common in America, but I figured people had at least heard the name and knew how to pronounce it. They always sound ignorant to me when they pronounce it like "Fransesska," but I guess less people had heard of it than I thought.

Nicknames for Francesca: | Edit

Fran, Frannie, Franny, Frankie, Francie, Cesca, Cecca, Cicca, Chessie, Chessy, Franchu, Checka, Checky, Fancy, France, French, Frenchie, Franca, Xesca, Chicca

Meanings and history of the name Francesca: | Edit

Italian. Ultimately, "Francesca" comes from the Late Latin masculine name "Franciscus," which meant "Frenchman."
There has also been some debate that the meaning is "Free"... but I must differ, and support what I first listed.

Famous real-life people named Francesca: | Edit

Francesca Annis, actress
Adriana Francesca Lima, supermodel

Francesca in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Francesca Vecchio" is Ray Vecchio's sister in the tv series "Due South."
Francesca Fiore - B Movie star played by Scott Thompson on Kids in the Hall

Francesca Battistelli-- a Christian/Pop singer/songwriter.