Fred

“Variant of Frederick — Peaceful ruler” — Germanic origin

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

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.

Around the world: #73 in Sweden (2025).

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

Famous Freds

Fred Astaire — American dancer, actor, and singer (1899–1987)
Fred Rogers — American television personality (1928–2003)
Fred Hoyle — British astronomer (1915–2001)
Fred — Brazilian association football player (born 1983)
Fred Zinnemann — Austrian film director (1907-1997)

In stories & tradition

Fred Jones — Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! · The New Scooby-Doo Movies
Fred Weasley — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Fred Flintstone — The Flintstones · The Man Called Flintstone

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 association football player (born 1983).

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

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

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