Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is

Francis Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural M ...

. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the Franks who were named for the francisca, the axe they used in battle. https://nameberry.com/babyname/frances Notable people and characters with the name include:

People

Frances, Countess of Périgord Frances de Châtillon (died 1481) was Countess of Périgord, Viscountess of Limoges, and Dame of Avesnes and Châlus. She was the eldest daughter of William, Viscount of Limoges and Isabelle de La Tour d'Auvergne. In 1470, she married Alain t ...

(died 1481) * Frances (musician) (born 1993), British singer and songwriter *

Frances Estill Beauchamp Frances Estill Beauchamp (, Estill; June 27, 1860 – April 11, 1923) was an American temperance activist, social reformer, and lecturer. In 1886, Beauchamp took active responsibilities of leadership in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU ...

(1860-1923), American temperance activist, social reformer, lecturer *

Frances Burke, Countess of Clanricarde Frances Burke, Countess of Clanricarde, Dowager Countess of Essex ( Walsingham, formerly Devereux and Sidney; 1567 – 17 February 1633) was an English noblewoman. The daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I's Secretary of State, ...

(1567–1633), English noblewoman and Irish countess *

Frances E. Burns Frances E. Burns (May 2, 1866 – November 19, 1937) was an American social leader and business woman. She served as Great Commander for Michigan of the Ladies of the Maccabees. She was the first woman executive of an American fraternal congress t ...

(1866-1937), American social leader and business executive * Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset (1590–1632), central figure in a famous scandal and murder *

Frances Lewis Brackett Damon Frances Brackett Damon (, Brackett; pen name, Percy Larkin; May 21, 1857 – December 13, 1939) was an American writer of poetry, short stories, essays, playlets, and novels. She was also an editor of the literary magazines, ''The Quiet Hours'' a ...

(1857–1939), American poet, writer *

Frances Davidson, Viscountess Davidson Frances Joan Davidson, Viscountess Davidson, Baroness Northchurch, (née Dickinson; 29 May 1894 – 25 November 1985), styled Lady Davidson between 1935 and 1937 and as Viscountess Davidson between 1937 and 1985, was a British Conservative Party ...

(1894–1985), British politician and Member of Parliament *

Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk (née Lady Frances Brandon; 16 July 1517 – 20 November 1559), was an English noblewoman, the second child and eldest daughter of King Henry VIII's younger sister, Princess Mary, and Charles Brandon, 1st Duke ...

(1517–1559), granddaughter of Henry VII of England and mother of Queen Jane Grey * Frances Haugen, American data engineer and scientist, product manager, and whistleblower *

Frances Hyde, Countess of Clarendon Frances Hyde, Countess of Clarendon (25 August 1617 (baptised) – 8 August 1667), born Frances Aylesbury, was an English peeress. As the mother of Anne Hyde, she was mother-in-law to James II and VII, the deposed king of England, Scotland, and I ...

(c. 1617–1667), mother-in-law of King James II of England and maternal grandmother of Mary II and Queen Anne *

Frances Newton, Lady Cobham Frances Newton, Baroness Cobham (1539 – 17 October 1592) was an English aristocratic woman who served Queen Elizabeth I of England as a Lady of the Bedchamber, and was one of her closest female friends. She was the second wife of William Brook ...

(1539–1592), one of the closest friends of Queen Elizabeth I of England *

Frances Radclyffe, Countess of Sussex Frances Radclyffe, Countess of Sussex ( Sidney; 1531–1589) was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I and the founder of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. She was the daughter of Sir William Sidney,Chisholm, 1911, pp. 164–165 of ...

(1531–1589), Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I *

Frances Seymour, Duchess of Somerset Frances Seymour, Duchess of Somerset (''née'' Devereux; 30 September 1599 – 24 April 1674) was an English noblewoman who lived during the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I, Charles I and Charles II. Her father was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of E ...

(1599–1674), English noblewoman * Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond, as known as 'La Belle Stuart', the face of Britannia * Frances Talbot, Countess of Tyrconnell (c. 1647–1730), English courtier and Irish countess *

Frances Vane, Viscountess Vane Frances Anne Vane, Viscountess Vane (formerly Hamilton, ''née'' Hawes; c. January 1715 – 31 March 1788), was a British memoirist known for her highly public adulterous relationships. Early life and first marriage Frances Anne Hawes was th ...

(1715–1788), British memoirist known for her highly public adulterous relationships * Frances Waldegrave, Countess Waldegrave (1821–1879), a leader and hostess of society *

Frances Atkins Frances Atkins is a British chef. When she won a Michelin star at the Yorke Arms in 2003, she was the first female British chef to win a star. Career Frances Venning was born in Maidstone, Kent, but grew up in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Her father ...

, British chef *

Frances Barkman Frances Barkman (March 1885 - 28 September 1946) was a Jewish Australian schoolteacher and community worker. Born in Kiev, in the Russian Empire, she emigrated to Australia in 1891, with her parents, who were fleeing the pogroms. She was raise ...

(1885–1946), Russian-born Australian schoolteacher and Jewish community worker *

Frances Catherine Barnard Frances Catherine Barnard (pen name, Mrs. Alfred Barnard; 7 May 1796 – 30 January 1869) was an English writer, poet, and playwright. She was the author of various dramatic works and tales. Active in the 1800s, her work was published in England an ...

(1796–1869), English author *

Frances Elizabeth Barrow Frances Elizabeth Barrow (, Mease; pen name, Aunt Fanny; February 22, 1822May 7, 1894) was a 19th-century American children's writer. Biography Frances (nickname, "Frankie Blue") Elizabeth Mease was born in Charleston, South Carolina, February ...

(1822–1894), American children's writer *

Frances Black Frances Black (born 25 June 1960) is an Irish singer and politician. She came to prominence in the late 1980s when she began to play with her family's band, the Black Family, performing a mix of traditional and contemporary Irish music. Bla ...

(born 1960), Irish singer *

Frances Manwaring Caulkins Frances Manwaring Caulkins (April 26, 1795 – 1869) was a 19th-century American historian and genealogist, the author of histories of New London, Connecticut and Norwich, Connecticut. Through her father, she was descendant of Hugh Caulkins, who ...

(1795–1869), American historian, genealogist, author * Frances Bean Cobain (born 1992), American artist, daughter of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and singer Courtney Love *

Frances Augusta Hemingway Conant Frances Augusta Conant (, Hemingway; December 23, 1842 - April 28, 1903) was an American journalist, editor, and businesswoman. She was the founder and principal promoter of the Illinois Woman's Press Association (IWPA). Conant died in 1903. Ea ...

(1842–1903), American journalist, editor, businesswoman * Frances Conroy, American actress *

Frances Cornford Frances Crofts Cornford (née Darwin; 30 March 1886 – 19 August 1960) was an English poet. Life She was the daughter of the botanist Francis Darwin and Newnham College fellow Ellen Wordsworth Crofts (1856-1903), and born into the Darwin ...

(1886–1960), English poet * Frances Dickinson (1856–1945), American physician, clubwoman *

Frances Dodge Frances Dodge (November 27, 1914 – January 24, 1971) was an internationally known horsewoman. She was the eldest of the three children of John Francis Dodge (co-founder of Dodge Motor Company) and his third wife Matilda Rausch Dodge (Wilso ...

(1914–1971), American internationally known horsewoman * Frances Scott Fitzgerald (1921–1986), American journalist *

Frances Burney Frances Burney (13 June 1752 – 6 January 1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was an English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1786–1790 she held the post as "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Mecklen ...

(1752–1840), English novelist, diarist and playwright * Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924), English playwright and author *

Frances Farmer Frances Elena Farmer (September 19, 1913August 1, 1970) was an American actress and television hostess. She appeared in over a dozen feature films over the course of her career, though she garnered notoriety for sensationalized accounts of her l ...

, American actress * Frances Fisher, American actress * Frances FitzGerald (journalist) (born 1940), American journalist and author * Frances Fitzgerald (politician) (born 1950), Irish Fine Gael politician *

Frances Forbes-Robertson Frances Forbes-Robertson (after marriage, Frances Harrod; 1866 – 23 May 1956) was a British artist, novelist, and actor. Among her publications can be counted ''The Devil's Pronoun'' (1894), ''Odd Stories'' (1897), ''The Potentate'' (1898), ''M ...

(1866–1956), British novelist *

Frances X. Frei Frances Frei is a Professor of Technology and Operations Management and the course lead for first-year diversity and inclusion studies at Harvard Business School. Her research investigates how leaders create the conditions for organizations and ind ...

, American academic and businesswoman *

Frances Elizabeth Fryatt Frances Elizabeth Fryatt ( pen name, F. E. Fryatt) was an American author and specialist in household applied arts. She served as editor-in-chief of '' The Lady's World'' after its establishment in 1886, and was twice elected president of the Ladi ...

, American author, editor, specialist in household applied arts *

Frances Nimmo Greene Frances Nimmo Greene (April 5, 1867 – December 9, 1937) was an American educator and author of novels, children's literature, and plays. She was the author of: ''King Arthur and his court'', 1901, stories of chivalry for children; ''With spur ...

(1867-1937), American educator and author *

Frances Irene Burge Griswold F. Burge Griswold (, Burge; after first marriage, Smith; after second marriage, Griswold; pen names, F. Burge Smith, Mrs. S. B. Phelps, Fan-Fan; April 28, 1826 – November 11, 1900) was a 19th-century American author. She wrote Sunday school tal ...

(1826–1900), American poet, author *

Frances Ridley Havergal Frances Ridley Havergal (14 December 1836 – 3 June 1879) was an English religious poet and hymnwriter. ''Take My Life and Let it Be'' and ''Thy Life for Me'' (also known as ''I Gave My Life for Thee'') are two of her best known hymns. She also ...

(1836–1879), English hymnwriter, religious poet *

Frances C. Jenkins Frances C. Jenkins (, Wiles; April 13, 1826 – December 14, 1915) was an American evangelist, Quaker minister, and social reformer, involved in the temperance and suffrage movements of the day. While in Illinois, she served as a vice-president of ...

(1826-1915), American evangelist, Quaker minister, and social reformer *

Frances Benjamin Johnston Frances Benjamin Johnston (January 15, 1864 – May 16, 1952) was an early American photographer and photojournalist whose career lasted for almost half a century. She is most known for her portraits, images of southern architecture, and various ...

(1864–1952), American photographer and photojournalist *

Frances Môn Jones Frances Môn Jones (20 October 1919 – 8 September 2000) was a Welsh harpist and teacher who won three harp competitions and one solo soprano contest at the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1937 to 1949. She began playing the organ at age 14 b ...

(1919–2000), Welsh harpist and teacher *

Frances Kirwan Dame Frances Clare Kirwan, (born 21 August 1959) is a British mathematician, currently Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford. Her fields of specialisation are algebraic and symplectic geometry. Education Kirwan was educ ...

(born 1959), British mathematician * Frances Latham (1610–1677), colonial woman in Rhode Island known as "the Mother of Governors" for having 10 governors among her direct descendants *

Frances Lupton Frances Elizabeth Lupton (née Greenhow; 20 July 1821 – 9 March 1892) was an Englishwoman of the Victorian era who worked to open up educational opportunities for women. She married into the politically active Lupton family of Leeds, where sh ...

(1821–1892), English reformer for female education * Frances MacDonald (1873–1921), Scottish artist *

Frances Harrison Marr Fannie H. Marr (July 2, 1835 – October 18, 1918), born Frances Harrison Marr, was an American author and poet. At an early age, she contributed poems to newspapers and magazines. Many of her fugitive verses were incorporated in ''Local and Nati ...

(1835–1918), American poet * Frances McDormand (born 1957), American actress * Frances McKee (born 1966), Scottish musician, guitarist for Scottish indie band The Vaselines *

Frances Gertrude McGill Frances Gertrude McGill (November 18, 1882 – January 21, 1959) was a Canadian forensic pathologist, criminologist, bacteriologist, allergologist and allergist. Nicknamed "the Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan" for her deductive skills and pu ...

(1882–1959), pioneering Canadian forensic pathologist and criminologist *

Frances Laughton Mace Frances Laughton Mace ( Frances Parker Laughton; pen name: Inez; January 15, 1836 – July 20, 1899) was an American poet. Her poems first appeared in ''The Journal of Commerce''. She was best remembered for the poem and hymn "Only Waiting", ...

(1836–1899), American poet *

Frances Margaret Milne Frances Margaret Milne ( pen name, Margaret Frances; June 30, 1846 – April 1910) was an Irish-born American author and librarian of the long nineteenth century. Her works included, ''For to-day : poems'' (1893); ''A cottage gray and other poems' ...

(1846–?), Irish-born American writer and librarian *

Frances Nelson Frances "Fanny" Nelson, Viscountess Nelson ( Frances Herbert Woolward, formerly Nisbet; (1758 4 May 1831), is best known as the wife of Horatio Nelson, the British naval officer who won several victories over the French during the French Rev ...

(1761–1831), wife of Admiral Horatio Nelson *

Frances Osborne Frances Victoria Osborne (''née'' Howell; born 18 February 1969) is an English author. She has written two biographies and one novel. She is the estranged wife of George Osborne, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Osborne's first biograph ...

(born 1969), British author *

Frances Perkins Frances Perkins (born Fannie Coralie Perkins; April 10, 1880 – May 14, 1965) was an American workers-rights advocate who served as the 4th United States secretary of labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member of th ...

(1880–1965), the U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position, and the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet * Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston (1864–1947), wife of US President Grover Cleveland *

Frances Quinlan Christine Frances Quinlan (born May 7, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and visual artist best known for fronting Philadelphia indie rock band Hop Along. They have painted all the band's album art. Career Early life Quinlan ...

, American musician * Frances of Rome (1384–1440), Italian saint, mystic, organizer of charitable services and Benedictine oblate who founded a religious community of oblates *

Frances Rutherford Frances Rutherford (29 April 1912 – 22 November 2006) was a New Zealand artist and occupational therapist. Early life A daughter of Alethea Mary Robinson and her husband Charles William Rutherford, a cousin of nuclear physicist Ernest Ruthe ...

(1912–2006), New Zealand artist and occupational therapist *

Frances Schreuder Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the F ...

(1938–2004), American murderer in the Franklin Bradshaw murder. *

Frances Alice Shepherd Frances Alice Shepherd, is a Canadian oncologist recognized for her research on lung cancer and her contributions to the design, development, and conduct of clinical trials. She is currently a senior staff physician at Princess Margaret Cancer Cent ...

, Canadian academic *

Frances Lee Strong Frances Lee Strong ( Myers; May 29, 1934 – April 24, 2020), better known by her stage name Grandma Lee, was an American stand-up comedian who was a talent show contestant on '' America's Got Talent'' in 2009. She began performing when sh ...

or Grandma Lee (1934–2020), American comedian *

Frances T. Sullivan Frances T. Sullivan ( Taylor) is an American politician from New York. Life She was born Frances Taylor in Volney, Oswego County, New York, the daughter of Elmer E. Taylor (died 1994) and Marion (Foster) Taylor (1922–2014). She graduated B.A ...

, New York State assemblywoman 1991–2002 *

Frances Shand Kydd Frances Ruth Shand Kydd (previously Spencer, ''née'' Roche; 20 January 1936 – 3 June 2004) was the mother of Diana, Princess of Wales. She was the maternal grandmother of William, Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, respectively ...

(1936–2004), British viscountess, mother of Diana, Princess of Wales *

Frances Sweeney Frances Sweeney (c. 1908 – June 19, 1944) was a journalist and activist who campaigned against fascism, antisemitism, and political corruption in 1940s Boston. She edited her own newspaper, the ''Boston City Reporter'', and started the '' Bost ...

(1908–1944), American journalist and anti-fascist activist *

Francie Swift Francie Swift is an American actress best known for her role as Cynthia in ''Thoroughbreds'' and her recurring roles as Haylie Grimes on ''Outsiders'' and Anne Vanderbilt Archibald on ''Gossip Girl''. Life and career Swift was born in Amarillo ...

, born Frances Swift, American actress * Frances Tiafoe, (male) American tennis player * Frances Christine Fisher Tiernan (1846–1920), American novelist and author under the pen name Christian Reid * Frances Trollope (1779–1863), English novelist and writer, mother of novelist and writer Anthony Trollope *

Frances Eleanor Trollope Frances Eleanor Trollope (née Ternan; 1 August 1835 – 14 August 1913) was an English novelist. She was best known for her biography on her mother-in-law, Frances Milton Trollope, who was famous for her book, ''Domestic Manners of the American ...

(1835–1913), sister of Ellen Ternan (Charles Dickens' mistress) and sister-in-law of Anthony Trollope * Frances Willard (1839–1898), American educator, temperance reformer and women's suffragist * Frances Yip, Hong Kong singer * Frances (Fanny) Brawne (1800–1865), fiancée of Romantic poet John Keats * Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917), Italian-American Roman Catholic nun and saint

Fictional characters

* Frances, the title character in the children's book series by Russell Hoban *

Frances Earnshaw ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their turbulent ...

, from the novel ''Wuthering Heights'' * Frances "Baby" Houseman (portrayed by Jennifer Grey), from the movie ''

Dirty Dancing ''Dirty Dancing'' is a 1987 American romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, it tells the story of Frances "Baby" Houseman ...

'' * Frances, in the anime '' Sonic X'' * Frances "Franny" Glass, from ''Franny and Zooey'' * Mary Frances "Francie" Nolan, from '' A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' by Betty Smith * Frances Stevens, played by Grace Kelly in Hitchcock's ''

To Catch a Thief '' To Catch a Thief'' is a 1955 American romantic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from a screenplay by John Michael Hayes based on the 1952 To Catch a Thief (novel), novel of the same name by David Dodge (novelist), David Dodge. The ...

'' * Frances Ha, the title character, played by Greta Gerwig, in the 2012 American black and white comedy-drama film, '' Frances Ha'' * Frances "Frankie" Heck, played by Patricia Heaton on the ABC sitcom The Middle * Frances the Firefly, the protagonist in a fire safety

public information film Public information films (PIFs) are a series of government-commissioned short films, shown during television advertising breaks in the United Kingdom. The name is sometimes also applied, ''faute de mieux'', to similar films from other countries, ...

References

{{Authority control Feminine given names French feminine given names English feminine given names

People

Fictional characters

See also

References