Fred

Meaning: Peaceful ruler
Origin: Germanic — Short form of Frederick

Boy's name · #1936 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Fred belongs to an older America first — it reached #14 back in 1885 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1936. About 344,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Fred is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Fred ranks in other countries and regions.

#73 in Sweden (2025) · #460 in Norway (2025) · #593 in England & Wales (2025) · #676 in Ireland (2025) · #762 in Scotland (2025) · #1,283 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,682 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,269 in Canada (2025) · #4,243 in France (2025) · #396 in New Zealand (2024) · #1,433 in Austria (2024) · #12,325 in Italy (2022) and 3 more.

Famous Freds

Fred Astaire — American dancer and actor (1899–1987)
Fred Rogers — American television host and author (1928–2003)
Fred Hoyle — British astronomer (1915–2001)
Fred — Brazilian footballer (born 1983)
Fred Zinnemann — Austrian film director (1907–1997)
Fred Trump — American real estate developer (1905–1999)
Fred Durst — American singer, rapper, actor and director (born 1970)
Fred Armisen — American comedian and actor (born 1966)
Fred Willard — American actor and comedian (1933–2020)
Fred Savage — American actor and director (born 1976)

In stories & tradition

Fred Jones — Scooby-Doo character
Fred Weasley — Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
Fred Flintstone — Character from The Flintstones

What Freds become

Among 5,567 notable people named Fred:

Sports figures appear 1.71× more often than among typical names — e.g. Fred, Brazilian footballer (born 1983).

Similar names: Fredy · Herman · Frank · Luther · Alfred · Clifford

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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