Fred

Meaning of Fred

Fred is often short for Frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler". It suggests someone who leads with calm and strength.

Fred has German roots — browse every German baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Fred

After ranking as high as #875 in 2001, Fred has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Fred

• Fred Rogers
  Television host, educator
• Fred Astaire
  Dancer, actor, singer
• Freddie Mercury
  Queen's lead singer
• Fred Durst
  Limp Bizkit vocalist
• Fred Savage
  Actor, director

More German names

Questions about the name Fred

What does the name Fred mean?

Fred means fred is often short for frederick, meaning "peaceful ruler". it suggests someone who leads with calm and strength, and it comes from German origins.

Is Fred a boy's or a girl's name?

Fred is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Fred?

Fred did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Fred most popular?

Fred peaked at #875 in 2001.