Frances

The feminine of Francis, Frances comes from the Latin Franciscus, meaning Frenchman, originally a nickname for Saint Francis of Assisi given by his Italian father who admired France. The name belonged to Frances Perkins, FDR's labor secretary and the first woman in a U.S. cabinet, as well as to Frances Hodgson Burnett, whose secret garden still draws readers. After decades of quiet, the name is enjoying a steady revival as parents reach past Emma and Charlotte for something warmer and more weathered. Two syllables with a crisp finish. Frances reads intelligent, no-nonsense, and quietly chic, a name with glasses and good posture.