Frances is an English given name or last name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'the French.' The male version of the name in English is

Francis Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...

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

People known as Frances

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 ...

(died 1481) *

Frances of Rome Francesca Bussa de' Leoni (1384 – March 9, 1440), known as Frances of Rome (; ), was an Italian Catholic mystic, organizer of charitable services and a Benedictine oblate who founded a religious community of oblates, who share a common life ...

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

Frances (musician) Sophie Frances Cooke (born 27 June 1993), known :wikt:mononym, mononymously as Frances, is a British singer and songwriter from Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury, Berkshire, England. Early life Born in Oxford, she grew up in Newbury and attended St ...

(born 1993), British singer and songwriter

People with the given name

* Frances Abington (1737–1815), English actress * Frances Dorothy Acomb (1907–1984), American historian * Frances Alda (1879–1952), New Zealand-born, Australian-raised operatic lyric soprano *

Frances Allitsen Mary Frances Allitsen (30 December 1848 – 1 October 1912), born Mary Frances Bumpus was an England, English composer. One of her most popular songs is a setting of Psalm 27, "The Lord is My Light".Frances Allen Frances Elizabeth Allen (August 4, 1932August 4, 2020) was an American computer scientist and pioneer in the field of optimizing compilers. Allen was the first woman to become an IBM Fellow, and in 2006 became the first woman to win the Turing ...

(1932–2020), American computer scientist and pioneer in the field of optimizing compilers *

Frances Arnold Frances Hamilton Arnold (born July 25, 1956) is an American chemical engineer and Nobel Laureate. She is the Linus Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). I ...

(born 1956), American chemical engineer and Nobel Laureate * Dame Frances Ashcroft (born 1952), British ion channel physiologist * Frances Atkins, British chef * Frances Barkman (1885–1946), Russian-born Australian schoolteacher and Jewish community worker * Frances Aviva Blane, British abstract painter * Frances Catherine Barnard (1796–1869), English author * Frances Elizabeth Barrow (1822–1894), American children's writer *

Frances Bavier Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American stage and television actress. Originally from New York theatre, she worked in film and television from the 1950s until the 1970s. She is best known for her role a ...

(1902–1989), American stage and television actress *

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 (WC ...

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

Frances Bergen Frances Bergen (née Westerman; September 14, 1922 – October 2, 2006) was an American actress and fashion model. She was the wife of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and the mother of actress Candice Bergen and film and television editor Kris B ...

(1922–2006), American actress and fashion model * Frances Black (born 1960), Irish singer * Frances (Fanny) Brawne (1800–1865), fiancée of Romantic poet John Keats *

Frances Brody Frances McNeil, also writing as Frances Brody, is an English novelist and playwright, and has written extensively for radio. Early life McNeil was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where she now lives. She studied at Ruskin College, Oxford and ha ...

, English novelist and playwright *

Frances Brooke Frances Brooke ( Moore; 12 January 1724 – 23 January 1789) was an English novelist, essayist, playwright and translator. Hers was the first English novel known to have been written in Canada. Biography Frances Moore was born in Claypole, Li ...

(1724–1789), English novelist, essayist, playwright and translator *

Frances Hodgson Burnett Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett (24 November 1849 – 29 October 1924) was a British-American novelist and playwright. She is best known for the three children's novels ''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' (1886), ''A Little Princess'' (1905), a ...

(1849–1924), English playwright and author *

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 of "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Meckle ...

(1752–1840), English novelist, diarist and playwright * Frances E. Burns (1866–1937), American social leader and business executive *

Frances Xavier Cabrini Frances Xavier Cabrini (; born Maria Francesca Cabrini; 15 July 1850 – 22 December 1917), also known as Mother Cabrini, was a prominent Italian-American religious sister in the Roman Catholic Church. She was the first American to be reco ...

(1850–1917), Italian-American Roman Catholic nun and saint *

Frances Boyd Calhoun Frances Boyd Calhoun (née Boyd; December 25, 1867 – June 8, 1909) was an American writer and teacher in Tennessee. She authored the children's book ''Miss Minerva and'' ''William Green Hill'' (1909), which has been a publishing success and has ...

(1867–1909), American author *

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

(1795–1869), American historian, genealogist, author *

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 Stat ...

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

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, later king of England, Scotland, and Ir ...

(c. 1617–1667), mother-in-law of King James II of England and maternal grandmother of Mary II and Queen Anne * Frances Cavenaugh, American politician * Frances Bean Cobain (born 1992), American artist, daughter of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and singer Courtney Love * Frances Newton, Lady Cobham (1539–1592), one of the closest friends of Queen Elizabeth I of England * Frances Augusta Hemingway Conant (1842–1903), American journalist, editor, businesswoman *

Frances Conroy Frances Hardman Conroy (born March 15, 1953) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Ruth Fisher on the television series '' Six Feet Under'' (2001–2005), for which she won a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a ...

(born 1953), American actress *

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

(1886–1960), English poet * Frances Lewis Brackett Damon (1857–1939), American poet, writer * Frances Davidson, Viscountess Davidson (1894–1985), British politician and Member of Parliament * Frances Dickinson (1856–1945), American physician, clubwoman * Frances Dodge (1914–1971), American internationally known horsewoman * Frances Ekstam (1914–2005), American founder of the physical therapy program at

Indiana University School of Medicine The Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) is a major, multi-campus medical school located throughout the US state, U.S. state of Indiana and is both the Medical school, undergraduate and Graduate medical education, graduate medical school o ...

* Frances Adler Elkins (1888–1953), interior designer *

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

(1913–1970), American actress *

Frances Fisher Frances Louise Fisher (born May 11, 1952) is an American actress. She began her career in theater and later starred as Detective Deborah Saxon in the CBS daytime soap opera ''The Edge of Night'' (1976–1981). In film, she is known for her rol ...

(born 1952), American actress *

Frances Scott Fitzgerald Frances Scott Fitzgerald (October 26, 1921 – June 18, 1986) was an American writer and journalist and the only child of novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald. She matriculated from Vassar College and worked for ''The Washin ...

(1921–1986), American journalist *

Frances FitzGerald (journalist) Frances FitzGerald (born October 21, 1940) is an American journalist and historian, who is primarily known for ''Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam'' (1972), an account of the Vietnam War. It was a bestseller that won ...

(born 1940), American journalist and author *

Frances Fitzgerald (politician) Frances Fitzgerald (; born 1 August 1950) is a former Irish Fine Gael politician who served as Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation from June 2017 to November 2017, Minister for Justice and Equality fro ...

(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, American academic and businesswoman * Frances Elizabeth Fryatt, American author, editor, specialist in household applied arts * Frances Nimmo Greene (1867–1937), American educator and author * Frances Irene Burge Griswold (1826–1900), American poet, author * Frances Haugen (born 1983 or 1984), American data engineer and scientist, product manager, and whistleblower *

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 Holk-Jones, member of the Alabama House of Representatives * Frances Anne Hopkins (1838–1919), British painter * Frances C. Jenkins (1826–1915), American evangelist, Quaker minister, and social reformer *

Frances Benjamin Johnston Frances Benjamin Johnston (January 15, 1864 – May 16, 1952) was an 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 photo ...

(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 (born 1959), British mathematician *

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 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 s ...

(1821–1892), English reformer for female education *

Frances MacDonald Frances MacDonald MacNair (24 August 1873 – 12 December 1921) was a Scottish artist whose design work was a prominent feature of the Modern Style (British Art Nouveau style) during the 1890s. Biography Frances MacDonald MacNair was th ...

(1873–1921), Scottish artist * Frances Laughton Mace (1836–1899), American poet * Frances Harrison Marr (1835–1918), American poet *

Frances McDormand Frances Louise McDormand (born Cynthia Ann Smith; June 23, 1957) is an American actress and film producer. In a career spanning over four decades, McDormand has received numerous accolades, including four Academy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awa ...

(born 1957), American actress * Frances Gertrude McGill (1882–1959), pioneering Canadian forensic pathologist and criminologist * Frances McKee (born 1966), Scottish musician, guitarist for Scottish indie band The Vaselines * Frances Margaret Milne (1846–1910), Irish-born American writer and librarian * Frances Trego Montgomery (1858–1925), American children's book writer *

Frances Nelson Frances "Fanny" Nelson, Viscountess Nelson, Duchess of Bronte ( Frances Herbert Woolward, formerly Nisbet; (1758 4 May 1831)) was the wife of Horatio Nelson, the British naval officer who won several victories over the French during the Fre ...

(1761–1831), wife of Admiral Horatio Nelson * Frances Osborne (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 fourth United States Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945, the longest serving in that position. A member o ...

(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 Frances Clara Cleveland Preston (, christened Frank Clara; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was the first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 until 1897, as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. She was the ...

(1864–1947), wife of US President Grover Cleveland * Frances Quinlan (born 1986), American musician *

Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond Frances Teresa Stewart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox (8 July 1647 – 15 October 1702) was a prominent member of the Court of the Restoration and famous for refusing to become a mistress of Charles II of England. For her great beauty she was k ...

(1647–1702), as known as 'La Belle Stuart', the face of Britannia * Frances Rutherford (1912–2006), New Zealand artist and occupational therapist *

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

(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 Cen ...

, Canadian academic * Frances Simpson (ca. 1857 - 1926), English writer, journalist, cat show judge, and cat breeder *

Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset (31 May 1590 – 23 August 1632), was an English noblewoman who was the central figure in a famous scandal and murder during the reign of James VI and I, King James I. She was found guilty but spared executio ...

(1590–1632), central figure in a famous scandal and murder * Frances Seymour, Duchess of Somerset (1599–1674), English noblewoman * Frances Lee Strong or Grandma Lee (1934–2020), American comedian * Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk (1517–1559), granddaughter of Henry VII of England and mother of Queen Jane Grey * Frances T. Sullivan, New York State assemblywoman 1991–2002 * Frances Radclyffe, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth I * Frances Sweeney (1908–1944), American journalist and anti-fascist activist * Frances L. Swift (1837–1916), American church and temperance leader * Francie Swift (born 1969 or 1970), born Frances Swift, American actress *

Frances Tiafoe Frances Tiafoe Jr. ( ; born January 20, 1998) is an American professional tennis player. He reached his career high at world No. 10 in singles on June 19, 2023, becoming the first Sierra Leonean American man to be ranked in the top 10 by the ...

(born 1998), American tennis player (male) * Frances Christine Fisher Tiernan (1846–1920), American novelist and author under the pen name Christian Reid * Frances E. Townsley (1850–1909), American Baptist minister *

Frances Trollope Frances Milton Trollope, also known as Fanny Trollope (10 March 1779 – 6 October 1863), was an English novelist who wrote as Mrs. Trollope or Mrs. Frances Trollope. Her book, '' Domestic Manners of the Americans'' (1832), observations from a ...

(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 of 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 Talbot, Countess of Tyrconnell (c. 1647–1730), English courtier and Irish countess * Frances Vane, Viscountess Vane (1715–1788), British memoirist known for her highly public adulterous relationships * Frances Waldegrave (1821–1879), Countess Waldegrave, British heiress and society hostess * Frances Wessells (1919–2024), American dancer, choreographer, and associate professor *

Frances Willard Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) in 187 ...

(1839–1898), American educator, temperance reformer and women's suffragist * Frances Williams (disambiguation), multiple people *

Frances Yip Frances Yip Lai-yee (born 22 October 1947) is a Hong Kong singer. She is best known for performing many of the theme songs for television series produced by TVB in the 1980s and early 1990s. Biography Born on 22 October 1947, Yip is of Hakka ...

(born 1947), Hong Kong singer

Fictional characters

* Frances "Frankie" Foster, from the 2004

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...

series ''

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends ''Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends'' is an American animated television series created by Craig McCracken for Cartoon Network. It was produced by Cartoon Network Studios as the network's first show animated primarily with Adobe Flash, whic ...

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

Phoebe Buffay Phoebe Buffay-Hannigan (; born 16 February 1969) is one of the six main characters from the American television sitcom, ''Friends''. She was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and portrayed by actress Lisa Kudrow. In the series' unive ...

's adoptive grandmother in NBC sitcom ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane (producer), David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting List of Friends episodes, ten seasons. With an ensemble cast ...

'' * Frances Earnshaw, from the novel ''Wuthering Heights'' * Frances "Baby" Houseman (portrayed by

Jennifer Grey Jennifer Grey (born March 26, 1960) is an American actress. She made her acting debut with the film Reckless (1984 film), ''Reckless'' (1984), and had her breakthrough with the teen comedy film ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' (1986). She earned wo ...

), from the movie ''

Dirty Dancing ''Dirty Dancing'' is a 1987 American romance film, romantic drama film, drama Dance in film, dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, it tel ...

'' * Frances, in the anime ''

Sonic X is a Japanese anime television series based on Sega's ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' video game series. Produced by TMS Entertainment under partnership with Sega and Sonic Team, and directed by Hajime Kamegaki, ''Sonic X'' initially ran for 52 ep ...

'' * 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 Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982), also known as Grace of Monaco, was an American actress and Princess of Monaco as the wife of Prince Rainier III from their marriage on April 18, 1956, until her death in 1982. ...

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 Greta Celeste Gerwig ( ; born August 4, 1983) is an American actress, screenwriter, and film director. Initially known for working on various mumblecore films, she has since expanded from acting in and co-writing independent films to directing ...

, in the 2012 American black and white comedy-drama film, '' Frances Ha'' * Frances "Frankie" Heck, played by

Patricia Heaton Patricia Helen Heaton (born March 4, 1958) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in a recurring role in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC drama series ''Thirtysomething'' (1989–1991) and later appearing in the comedy film ...

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, ...

* Frances Flynn, the protagonist of the novel '' Conversations with Friends''. Played by

Alison Oliver Alison Oliver is an Irish actress. She is known for her debut role as Frances in the BBC Three and Hulu miniseries '' Conversations with Friends'' (2022), and she was named in '' Variety''s "10 actors to watch" in 2023. Early life and educa ...

in the TV adaptation of the same name.

References

{{Authority control Feminine given names English feminine given names

People known as Frances

People with the given name

Fictional characters

See also

References