Fran is a unisex given name used in Croatia, England, Slovenia, and Spain. It originated as a short form of Francis, Frances, or other related names.EtymologyFran was originally a nickname for longer names such as Francis or Frances. The root name Francis is the English form of the Late Latin name Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman." This, in turn, came from the Germanic tribe of the Franks, whose name is thought to derive from the Proto-Germanic word *frankô, referring to a type of spear. The most famous early bearer was Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone), who was nicknamed Francesco (“the Frenchman”) by his father. Saint Francis founded the Franciscan order and is revered for his dedication to poverty and humility. His influence helped spread the name throughout Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The feminine equivalent, Frances, became similarly popular. In the English-speaking world, Fran can be a short form for either Francis (masculine) or Frances (feminine), whereas in Croatian and Slovenian it is used exclusively as a masculine short form of Franc or Frančiška. In Spanish it normally refers to men named Francisco. Italian also uses Fran as a short form for men named Francesco.Notable BearersWomen:Fran Adams, American actressFran Allison (1907–1989), American television and radio comedian and singer, known for Kukla, Fran and OllieFran Baum, Australian social scientistFran Capo, American motivational speaker and authorFran Drescher (born 1957), American actress best known for The NannyFran Jeffries (1937–2016), American singer and actressFran Lebowitz (born 1950), American author and social commentatorFran McDormand (born 1957), American actressMen:Fran Tudor (born 1995), Croatian footballerFran Karačić (born 1996), Croatian designerFran Bukovec, etc.UsageDue to its origin as a short form, many variations exist in different languages:English variants: Frankie, Cissy, etc.Spanish variants: Curro, Kiko, Paco, Pancho, Paquito.Feminine forms in other languages: Francisca (Spanish), Frances (English), Francis (old English feminine), Frančiška (Slovene).