Francesca

Meaning: (Free, From France, Feminine form of Francesco, the Italian cognate of Francis, which is from Middle Latin Franciscus, a derivative of Francus (a Frank, a freeman). The name was borne by the 13^th Century Francesca da Rimini, the beautiful daughter of the Count of Ravenna, Giovanni da Polenta, In return for military support, Francesca’s father betrothed her to the ugly and malformed Lord of Rimini, Giovanni Malatesta. Paolo, Malatesta’s handsome younger brother, acted as proxy in the marriage and he and Francesca soon fell in love. They were discovered and put to death in 1289 by Malatesta. Dante recorded there tragedy of Francesca Da Rimini in his work Inferno. Italian form of Frances, It was given from the 13^th Century in honor of Saint Frances of Assisi.)

Origin: (Latin, Italian)

Pronunciation: (fran-CHEHS-k-ə , fran-CHESS-kah)

Gender: Female

I was watching Mrs. Eastwood and Company a T.V series following Clint Eastwoods wife and daughters. One of his daughters is name Francesca and in the past I have seen and heard this name a few times. There is a store at the mall near where I live that is named Francesca's. The meanings are pretty and the story about the 13th Century Francesca reminds me of the another story Tristan and Isolde which is like a British version similar in many ways to this tragedy.