Dred as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Dred

What is the meaning of the name Dred ?

The baby name Dred is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /drɛd/ (rhymes with "bread").

Dred is English in Origin.

Dred is a compact English name with two plausible roots. Most likely it is a clipped form of Eldred or Aldred, from Old English Ealdræd, meaning “old/wise counsel” (eald “old” + ræd “advice”). In some cases it reflects a variant spelling of the word dread, which in earlier English could denote awe or reverent fear as well as terror, a nuance preserved in the phrase “holy dread.”

In American history the name is most recognizable through Dred Scott (c. 1799–1858), whose name fixed the spelling in public memory. It has appeared sporadically as a given name or nickname since the 19th century, with occasional use in African American and Caribbean communities - sometimes influenced by cultural uses of dread/dred. Variants include Dredd and Dread; related forms are Eldred, Aldred, and the surname Eldredge/Eldridge. Short forms include Dre. The sound is stark and strong, combining wise-counsel roots with an aura of gravity.