Frederick: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced FRED-rik · 2 syllables
Frederick means “peaceful ruler”, from Germanic.
From German Friedrich, Friederich and influenced by Latin Fridericus, Fredericus, from Old High German Fridurih, from Frankish *Frithurik, from Proto-Germanic *Frithuriks, from *frithuz (“peace”) + *riks (“king, ruler”), literally “peace king, peaceful ruler”.
- Meaning
- peaceful ruler
- Origin
- Germanic
- Pronunciation
- FRED-rik
- US rank (2025)
- #435
- US babies a year
- about 838 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1880
- Style
- Vintage, Classic, Literary
- Nicknames
- Fred, Freddie
How popular is Frederick?
Frederick was the #435 name in the US in 2025, given to 728 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #435 |
| England & Wales | #63 |
| Scotland | #204 |
| Northern Ireland | #270 |
| Ireland | #318 |
| Canada | #298 |
| Australia | #101 |
How old are people named Frederick?
Half of US adults named Frederick are older than 63; most are between 28 and 85. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Frederick
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Frederick have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Frederick
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Frederick
What does the name Frederick mean?
Frederick means “peaceful ruler”. It comes from Germanic.
How do you pronounce Frederick?
Frederick is pronounced FRED-rik.
How popular is the name Frederick?
Frederick was the #435 name in the US in 2025, given to 728 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
How old are people named Frederick?
Half of US adults named Frederick are older than 63. Most are between 28 and 85.