Fun Facts About the Name Frederick
- Decades of popularity: Frederick stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 78 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1957.
- More than 267 thousand babies named Frederick: U.S. records list 267,157 babies given the name Frederick from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,105 girls received the name Frederick - about 1 girl for every 241 boys.
What Does the Name Frederick Mean?
Frederick is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. Its established meaning is "peaceful ruler." The name comes from a compound of two Germanic elements: friþu- or frithu-, meaning "peace," and rīk- or rīc-, meaning "ruler" or "power." The Proto-Germanic form is reconstructed as Friþurīks or Frithurik. In Old High German the name appears as Fridurih or Frithurih; medieval Latin records use Fridericus. The literal sense is "ruler of peace" or "peace-ruler," customarily rendered as "peaceful ruler." The second element is related to Gothic reiks and Old English rīce, both connected with rule and power. The name is not originally biblical; it belongs to the old Germanic stock of compound personal names.
Frederick Name History & Origins
The name goes back to a compound personal name used by West Germanic peoples, including the Franks and Alemanni. Medieval Latin documents wrote it as Fridericus, a form that passed into Romance and scholarly use. From the Germanic-speaking area, the name developed into Friedrich in German, Frédéric in French, Federico in Italian and Spanish, Frederik in Dutch and Danish, Fredrik in Swedish and Norwegian, and Frederick in English. These are cognate forms of the same Germanic name, not independent inventions.
The name was carried by medieval nobility and rulers. Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I, known as Barbarossa, reigned from 1152 to 1190; his grandson Frederick II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1220 to 1250. The House of Hohenzollern used the name repeatedly; Frederick II of Prussia, called Frederick the Great, reigned from 1740 to 1786. In Denmark and Norway, the form Frederik was used by many kings. In Britain, Frederick was used in royal circles; Frederick, Prince of Wales, was the eldest son of King George II. A notable religious bearer was Saint Frederick, bishop of Utrecht, who died in 838. The English form Frederick is also the customary English rendering of the German Friedrich and of cognate names in other European languages.
The common English short form is Fred, with Freddy also used. A later literary use is the character Frederick Tilney in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey.
How Popular is the Name Frederick?
Frederick remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1957. Its highest annual birth count was in 1951, and people born that year turn 75 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #14,231 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #14,000 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #13,880 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #13,689 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,256 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #6,398 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #5,390 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1986 | #5,033 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #7,803 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #4,381 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1983 | #4,956 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #5,650 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #5,355 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #5,635 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #4,688 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #4,129 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1977 | #7,084 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,213 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1975 | #3,822 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #2,940 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1973 | #3,266 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #2,539 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1971 | #2,990 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1970 | #3,765 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,865 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1968 | #3,367 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #3,244 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #3,808 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #3,611 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #3,286 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,513 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,559 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1961 | #2,777 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,595 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #2,250 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1958 | #2,471 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,850 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #2,966 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #3,644 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #2,622 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #3,545 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,523 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #3,167 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #3,506 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #3,255 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,027 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,782 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1945 | #4,783 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #3,007 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #2,917 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1942 | #3,263 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #2,910 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1940 | #4,590 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #2,784 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #2,484 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1937 | #2,031 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #2,314 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #3,267 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #2,596 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1932 | #2,548 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #2,348 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #2,237 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #1,849 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1928 | #1,926 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1927 | #1,839 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1926 | #1,954 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #2,319 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,717 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,515 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #4,655 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #1,887 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1920 | #2,508 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1919 | #4,464 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1918 | #2,887 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #3,473 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #2,174 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1915 | #3,567 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #2,734 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1911 | #2,294 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1910 | #2,549 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1908 | #2,235 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #435 | 728 | 0.0426% |
| 2024 | #423 | 741 | 0.0432% |
| 2023 | #506 | 596 | 0.0349% |
| 2022 | #476 | 648 | 0.0371% |
| 2021 | #476 | 629 | 0.0360% |
| 2020 | #484 | 613 | 0.0355% |
| 2019 | #476 | 615 | 0.0343% |
| 2018 | #499 | 575 | 0.0317% |
| 2017 | #500 | 581 | 0.0314% |
| 2016 | #512 | 583 | 0.0307% |
| 2015 | #515 | 558 | 0.0291% |
| 2014 | #495 | 567 | 0.0295% |
| 2013 | #492 | 556 | 0.0294% |
| 2012 | #535 | 488 | 0.0257% |
| 2011 | #541 | 472 | 0.0249% |
| 2010 | #493 | 527 | 0.0275% |
| 2009 | #538 | 491 | 0.0248% |
| 2008 | #521 | 521 | 0.0255% |
| 2007 | #531 | 484 | 0.0233% |
| 2006 | #476 | 556 | 0.0271% |
| 2005 | #450 | 569 | 0.0285% |
| 2004 | #447 | 581 | 0.0293% |
| 2003 | #432 | 587 | 0.0297% |
| 2002 | #429 | 580 | 0.0299% |
| 2001 | #408 | 614 | 0.0316% |
| 2000 | #395 | 647 | 0.0329% |
| 1999 | #384 | 673 | 0.0351% |
| 1998 | #362 | 720 | 0.0377% |
| 1997 | #356 | 711 | 0.0377% |
| 1996 | #324 | 809 | 0.0427% |
| 1995 | #316 | 830 | 0.0436% |
| 1994 | #299 | 903 | 0.0467% |
| 1993 | #292 | 948 | 0.0483% |
| 1992 | #275 | 1,038 | 0.0520% |
| 1991 | #246 | 1,135 | 0.0562% |
| 1990 | #252 | 1,076 | 0.0524% |
| 1989 | #238 | 1,114 | 0.0557% |
| 1988 | #219 | 1,178 | 0.0615% |
| 1987 | #213 | 1,170 | 0.0627% |
| 1986 | #198 | 1,269 | 0.0689% |
| 1985 | #197 | 1,224 | 0.0662% |
| 1984 | #197 | 1,221 | 0.0676% |
| 1983 | #179 | 1,437 | 0.0802% |
| 1982 | #186 | 1,366 | 0.0753% |
| 1981 | #170 | 1,470 | 0.0821% |
| 1980 | #161 | 1,608 | 0.0901% |
| 1979 | #159 | 1,638 | 0.0951% |
| 1978 | #158 | 1,533 | 0.0934% |
| 1977 | #152 | 1,627 | 0.0990% |
| 1976 | #145 | 1,731 | 0.1103% |
| 1975 | #141 | 1,787 | 0.1144% |
| 1974 | #135 | 1,928 | 0.1226% |
| 1973 | #120 | 2,183 | 0.1401% |
| 1972 | #116 | 2,438 | 0.1503% |
| 1971 | #108 | 2,974 | 0.1682% |
| 1970 | #115 | 2,887 | 0.1554% |
| 1969 | #116 | 2,773 | 0.1551% |
| 1968 | #113 | 2,611 | 0.1502% |
| 1967 | #110 | 2,815 | 0.1614% |
| 1966 | #109 | 2,885 | 0.1618% |
| 1965 | #106 | 3,154 | 0.1695% |
| 1964 | #105 | 3,357 | 0.1685% |
| 1963 | #117 | 3,125 | 0.1539% |
| 1962 | #116 | 3,257 | 0.1574% |
| 1961 | #117 | 3,313 | 0.1560% |
| 1960 | #114 | 3,478 | 0.1631% |
| 1959 | #114 | 3,549 | 0.1663% |
| 1958 | #110 | 3,639 | 0.1715% |
| 1957 | #99 | 4,011 | 0.1859% |
| 1956 | #91 | 4,305 | 0.2035% |
| 1955 | #86 | 4,551 | 0.2209% |
| 1954 | #83 | 4,743 | 0.2326% |
| 1953 | #80 | 4,865 | 0.2467% |
| 1952 | #76 | 4,979 | 0.2562% |
| 1951 | #78 | 4,984 | 0.2647% |
| 1950 | #75 | 4,659 | 0.2602% |
| 1949 | #70 | 4,747 | 0.2676% |
| 1948 | #75 | 4,517 | 0.2574% |
| 1947 | #78 | 4,637 | 0.2534% |
| 1946 | #75 | 4,231 | 0.2605% |
| 1945 | #77 | 3,436 | 0.2553% |
| 1944 | #73 | 3,583 | 0.2629% |
| 1943 | #70 | 3,840 | 0.2690% |
| 1942 | #68 | 3,738 | 0.2706% |
| 1941 | #69 | 3,288 | 0.2677% |
| 1940 | #68 | 3,096 | 0.2671% |
| 1939 | #71 | 2,972 | 0.2685% |
| 1938 | #71 | 2,935 | 0.2646% |
| 1937 | #68 | 2,878 | 0.2698% |
| 1936 | #70 | 2,817 | 0.2716% |
| 1935 | #73 | 2,582 | 0.2480% |
| 1934 | #77 | 2,431 | 0.2354% |
| 1933 | #78 | 2,321 | 0.2341% |
| 1932 | #73 | 2,501 | 0.2395% |
| 1931 | #73 | 2,471 | 0.2377% |
| 1930 | #74 | 2,694 | 0.2455% |
| 1929 | #67 | 2,813 | 0.2615% |
| 1928 | #67 | 2,882 | 0.2602% |
| 1927 | #64 | 3,048 | 0.2705% |
| 1926 | #64 | 3,120 | 0.2810% |
| 1925 | #65 | 3,088 | 0.2767% |
| 1924 | #62 | 3,279 | 0.2895% |
| 1923 | #60 | 3,278 | 0.2991% |
| 1922 | #60 | 3,353 | 0.3081% |
| 1921 | #61 | 3,376 | 0.3065% |
| 1920 | #60 | 3,275 | 0.3077% |
| 1919 | #64 | 2,932 | 0.2991% |
| 1918 | #59 | 3,351 | 0.3306% |
| 1917 | #51 | 3,455 | 0.3733% |
| 1916 | #52 | 3,325 | 0.3736% |
| 1915 | #52 | 3,159 | 0.3723% |
| 1914 | #52 | 2,415 | 0.3688% |
| 1913 | #49 | 1,996 | 0.3894% |
| 1912 | #51 | 1,564 | 0.3638% |
| 1911 | #52 | 802 | 0.3549% |
| 1910 | #69 | 543 | 0.2796% |
| 1909 | #64 | 477 | 0.2909% |
| 1908 | #68 | 438 | 0.2838% |
| 1907 | #68 | 410 | 0.2792% |
| 1906 | #67 | 377 | 0.2831% |
| 1905 | #67 | 381 | 0.2880% |
| 1904 | #63 | 390 | 0.3044% |
| 1903 | #63 | 341 | 0.2860% |
| 1902 | #70 | 330 | 0.2690% |
| 1901 | #60 | 336 | 0.3156% |
| 1900 | #64 | 420 | 0.2791% |
| 1899 | #55 | 350 | 0.3295% |
| 1898 | #60 | 368 | 0.3000% |
| 1897 | #56 | 369 | 0.3273% |
| 1896 | #57 | 381 | 0.3187% |
| 1895 | #54 | 406 | 0.3458% |
| 1894 | #54 | 413 | 0.3567% |
| 1893 | #47 | 432 | 0.3846% |
| 1892 | #48 | 453 | 0.3712% |
| 1891 | #44 | 412 | 0.4072% |
| 1890 | #43 | 410 | 0.3693% |
| 1889 | #44 | 451 | 0.4078% |
| 1888 | #42 | 496 | 0.4104% |
| 1887 | #37 | 464 | 0.4575% |
| 1886 | #40 | 461 | 0.4161% |
| 1885 | #37 | 466 | 0.4323% |
| 1884 | #42 | 454 | 0.3967% |
| 1883 | #37 | 438 | 0.4186% |
| 1882 | #37 | 457 | 0.4020% |
| 1881 | #36 | 433 | 0.4298% |
| 1880 | #33 | 483 | 0.4371% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Frederick
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Frederick Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Frederick's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Frederick's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.