Phonetic transliteration of 'Fanny', typically a short form of Frances.
范 is borrowed from the Chinese surname for the 'Fan' sound;
妮 ('lass, girl') is a stock character used in feminine name endings (e.g.
安妮 Annie,
珍妮 Jenny). Best-known bearer: Fanny Price, the heroine of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.
