Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Fred
BoyEnglish, Germanic· “peace; short for Frederick”
- Meaning
- peace; short for Frederick
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- FREHD
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,936
- US babies 2025
- 80
- Best rank
- #14 (1885)
- Peak year
- 1924
Meaning and origin of Fred
Fred is an English and Germanic name that means “peace; short for Frederick”.
Fred is a short form of Frederick, from the Germanic frid, peace, and ric, ruler, and it can also be short for Alfred or Wilfred. It was especially popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and now reads as a vintage classic. Famous bearers include the dancer Fred Astaire and the television host Fred Rogers. The name has a warm, friendly, down-to-earth feel. In Britain the name is also familiar through Fred Perry, the tennis champion whose name became a clothing brand.
Other spellings with the same sound: Freda, Fread.
Popularity over time
Fred has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 123 different years. Its best national rank was #14 in 1885, and the most babies received it in 1924, when 6,532 were named Fred. In 2025, 80 babies were named Fred, and it ranked #1,936 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #33 in 1920, #84 in 1950, #324 in 1980, #965 in 2000, #1,520 in 2010, and #1,936 in 2025. Of the 343,655 US boys named Fred since records began, 18% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 56,665 babies. Since 2010, 1,584 more have been named Fred.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Calvin, Bernard, Leroy, Clifford, and Wallace.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Fred ranked highest in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #1138 | 6 |
| New York | #1339 | 8 |
| Ohio | #1341 | 5 |
| California | #1889 | 8 |
| Florida | #1924 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Fred is usually pronounced FREHD, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with F and ends in “-ed”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Freda and Fread.
Middle names for Fred
A few middle names that flow with Fred: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Fred
Similar names
Ted Boy
TED
“short form of Edward or Theodore” · English
#3,229
Frank Boy
FRANGK
“a Frank; free, candid” · Germanic
#514
Reed Boy
REED
“red-haired” · English
#419
Creed Boy
KREED
“belief, creed” · English
#663
Miles Boy
MYLZ
Germanic
#44
Myles Boy
MYLZ
English
#100
Hank Boy
HANGK
“short for Henry; home ruler” · English
#413
Lance Boy
LANS
“land” · Germanic
#862
Ray Boy
RAY
“counsel protector; ray of light” · English
#792
Bobby Boy
BOB-ee
“short for Robert, bright fame” · English
#1,097
Billy Boy
BIL-ee
“short for William, resolute protector” · English
#1,068
Gerald Boy
JEH-ruhld
“spear rule” · Germanic
#1,206
Lists that include Fred
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fred mean?
Fred is an English and Germanic name that means “peace; short for Frederick”.
What is the origin of the name Fred?
Fred has English and Germanic roots. Fred is a short form of Frederick, from the Germanic frid, peace, and ric, ruler, and it can also be short for Alfred or Wilfred.
Is Fred a popular name?
Not especially. Fred ranked #1,936 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Fred a boy or girl name?
Fred is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Fred?
Fred is usually pronounced FREHD. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings