Fred
Fred is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Peaceful ruler or peace.
Origin and history
Fred is a Germanic name traditionally used as a short form of Frederick or Wilfred, derived from elements meaning peace and power. It was extremely popular in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it remains a recognized classic, though used less frequently for newborns.
Popularity in the United States
343,655 babies in the United States have been named Fred since 1880. It ranks #101 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1398.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8.6 %)
- PA (6.5 %)
- CA (6.3 %)
- IL (5.9 %)
- TX (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 15,602 |
| 1890-1900 | 14,270 |
| 1900-1910 | 13,076 |
| 1910-1920 | 44,345 |
| 1920-1930 | 62,742 |
| 1930-1940 | 56,164 |
| 1940-1950 | 56,665 |
| 1950-1960 | 37,445 |
| 1960-1970 | 23,189 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,425 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,810 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,779 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,559 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,043 |
| 2020-2029 | 541 |
Famous people named Fred
- Fred Astaire: dancer, actor
- Fred Rogers: television host, educator
- Fred Armisen: actor, comedian
Fun facts
- Fred originated as a familiar short form of longer Germanic names like Frederick and Wilfred before becoming an independent given name.
- Fred was a top 50 male name in the United States throughout the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.