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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Short form of Frederick: peaceful ruler
- Origin
- English (short form)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- FRED
Fred is a short form of Frederick, an English name meaning peaceful ruler. If you're looking for something brief and familiar, this is a name with a long history in its own right, not just a nickname. It's a straightforward, no-frills choice with a clear meaning behind it.
Meaning & Origin of Fred
Meaning: Short form of Frederick: peaceful ruler.
Origin: English (short form).
Source: Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Fred
FREDIPA /frɛd/
Popularity of Fred
Fred hit its high point in 1885, when it ranked #14 with 1,562 babies given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #1686, with just 99 babies named Fred that year.
Names Like Fred
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Fred mean?
Short form of Frederick: peaceful ruler. (Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_(given_name))
How do you pronounce Fred?
Fred is pronounced FRED (IPA: /frɛd/).
Is Fred a popular name right now?
Fred peaked at #14 in 1885 and is ranked #1686 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Fred Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Fred, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Fred? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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