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Frederick as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Frederick

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The baby name Frederick is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈfrɛdrɪk/, /ˈfrɛdərɪk/; common respellings: FRED-rik, FRED-er-ik.

Frederick is Germanic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: IPA: /ˈfrɛdrɪk/, /ˈfrɛdərɪk/; common respellings: FRED-rik, FRED-er-ik

What is the meaning of the name Frederick ?

The baby name Frederick is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈfrɛdrɪk/, /ˈfrɛdərɪk/; common respellings: FRED-rik, FRED-er-ik.

Frederick is Germanic in Origin.

From the Old High German elements fridu (“peace, protection”) and rīk (“ruler, power”), Frederick means “peaceful ruler.” The name appears in early records as Fridurih and later as Friedrich, spreading across medieval Europe via Frankish and German courts and into England through Norman and later Hanoverian influence. In English it settled as Frederick, maintaining a dignified, steady presence across the centuries.

Worn by emperors and saints, it has deep historical weight: Frederick I Barbarossa and Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire, Saint Frederick of Utrecht, and Enlightenment monarch Frederick the Great of Prussia. In the Anglophone world, associations include abolitionist Frederick Douglass. International forms and nicknames abound: Fred, Freddie/Freddy; German Friedrich, Fritz; French Frédéric; Italian and Spanish Federico; Portuguese Frederico; Dutch and Scandinavian Frederik/Fredrik; Polish Fryderyk; Czech Bedřich. Feminine counterparts include Frederica and Frederika.

Frederick has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Frederick

Frederick II of Prussia Royal · Born 1712 · Kingdom of Prussia Frederick II of Prussia, often called Frederick the Great, was a king known for his military victories and the expansion of Prussian territories during the 18th century. He was also a patron of the arts and an advocate of Enlightenment ideas, contributing to the cultural and intellectual growth of his kingdom. Frederick Barbarossa Politician · Born 1122 · Holy Roman Empire Frederick Barbarossa was a Holy Roman Emperor known for his ambitious attempts to restore the glory of the Roman Empire during the 12th century. He led several military campaigns, including the Third Crusade, and played a crucial role in the politics of medieval Europe. Frederick Douglass Politician · Born 1818 · United States Frederick Douglass was a prominent American abolitionist and statesman, best known for his efforts to end slavery and his powerful speeches advocating for equality. He wrote several influential autobiographies, including 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.' His work remains a cornerstone of American literature and civil rights history.
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Royal · Born 1195 · Holy Roman Empire Frederick II was a Holy Roman Emperor known for his ambitious and enlightened rule during the 13th century. He was famous for his cultural and scientific patronage, as well as his conflicts with the papacy. His reign marked a significant period in the history of the Holy Roman Empire. Frederick III, German Emperor Politician · Born 1831 · Kingdom of Prussia Frederick III was the German Emperor and King of Prussia for a brief period in 1888. Known for his liberal and progressive views, his reign was cut short due to illness, lasting only 99 days. His short rule is often remembered for the potential reforms that were never realized. Frederick William IV of Prussia Politician · Born 1795 · Kingdom of Prussia Frederick William IV of Prussia was a king known for his romanticist vision and attempts to unify Germany under Prussian leadership. He ruled from 1840 to 1861 and is remembered for his architectural contributions to Berlin and Potsdam, including the completion of the Gothic Cologne Cathedral. Despite his ambitions, his reign faced challenges, including the 1848 revolutions.

Frederick – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
HT 0 #12 1 399
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
HT Boys 0 #34 1 903
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
MT 0 #40 4 1,767
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
CM 0 #53 4 2,592
GH Boys 0 #66 935 8,138
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
PH 0 #81 16 5,607
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
JM 0 #90 4 3,714
AF Girls 0 #94 1 2,402
QA 0 #100 7 7,011
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
OM 0 #113 9 6,215
KW 0 #120 2 5,216
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
Switzerland Boys 2024 #127 11 1,769
CY Boys 0 #128 4 3,473
MU 0 #129 9 3,613
PA 0 #131 8 3,797
BN Boys 0 #133 7 6,332
GH 0 #134 125 5,396
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BW Boys 0 #147 8 4,685
MT Boys 0 #149 28 4,064
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
PR Boys 0 #171 8 2,508
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
Canada Boys 2024 #183 126 2,588
Sweden Boys 2019 #183 2 1,462
AE 0 #183 5 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
MO Boys 0 #199 25 5,842
DK 0 #203 4 5,198
NA Boys 0 #213 23 6,830
LU Boys 0 #214 7 4,970
PH Boys 0 #215 185 11,440
TW Boys 0 #229 13 7,111
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
JM Boys 0 #230 43 6,876
Belgium Boys 1995 #233 17 433
SG 0 #234 36 11,010
NA Girls 0 #235 3 7,146
NG 0 #238 27 5,926
EC Boys 0 #244 3 3,322
AO Boys 0 #245 5 5,568
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
GR Boys 0 #270 4 6,912
SA 0 #278 18 10,560
Canada Girls 2001 #284 5 2,435
JP Boys 0 #295 9 7,909
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
MY 0 #296 35 12,352
CN Boys 0 #299 21 9,639
MU Boys 0 #301 57 8,477
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
HK 0 #308 41 8,483
HK Boys 0 #312 252 12,905
DK Boys 0 #313 13 7,401
GH Girls 0 #315 10 6,973
PE 0 #324 6 6,350
France Girls 1973 #325 3 1,432
GT 0 #334 5 5,948
PA Boys 0 #344 142 9,305
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
PT Boys 0 #358 10 7,951
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
United States Boys 2024 #376 741 7,044
ZA 0 #377 71 14,421
CM Boys 0 #380 186 12,054
France Boys 2021 #381 7 2,865
UY Boys 0 #385 15 5,922
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
BO 0 #406 3 6,868
Germany 0 #412 26 2,542
CR Boys 0 #421 67 10,188
Austria Boys 0 #422 21 2,180
SG Boys 0 #422 285 17,960
CL 0 #426 9 6,867
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
MX 0 #438 8 8,339
GT Boys 0 #452 23 7,625
SD Boys 0 #458 9 10,523
CO 0 #465 16 7,768
ZA Boys 0 #468 1,164 25,619
AR Boys 0 #478 6 7,628
NG Boys 0 #490 652 16,906
RU Boys 0 #492 14 12,621
CL Boys 0 #528 141 13,390
CM Girls 0 #531 10 11,671
PS Boys 0 #531 18 10,655
BH 0 #539 15 17,937
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
LY 0 #553 7 12,703
BO Boys 0 #557 36 9,244
KW Girls 0 #561 1 19,177
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IL Boys 0 #621 5 10,983
QA Boys 0 #621 87 18,093
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
Finland Boys 2026 #643 40 3,552
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
IT 0 #686 29 4,183
LB 0 #686 5 13,263
MY Boys 0 #690 459 25,439
IQ Boys 0 #692 6 13,071
CO Boys 0 #720 205 15,656
BR Boys 0 #727 25 12,213
KW Boys 0 #733 37 18,755
NG Girls 0 #758 29 15,093
SY 0 #764 4 11,684
PE Boys 0 #774 105 14,506
Germany Boys 0 #799 154 5,697
OM Boys 0 #820 62 17,948
TN 0 #820 10 13,765
NL Boys 0 #836 116 5,873
MX Boys 0 #861 122 16,355
Spain Boys 0 #864 67 5,610
EG Boys 0 #922 4 15,035
AE Boys 0 #989 104 22,615
IN Boys 0 #990 12 16,750
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
SA Girls 0 #1,011 4 25,931
MY Girls 0 #1,069 4 24,821
MA 0 #1,117 12 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,127 15 25,928
DZ 0 #1,164 13 20,130
MX Girls 0 #1,168 16 17,781
TR 0 #1,200 12 19,440
IT Boys 0 #1,216 256 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,266 351 28,008

Frederick is popular in 81 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Frederick

Frederick is predominantly a boy's name.
Frederick is a 3 syllable name, pronounced IPA: /ˈfrɛdrɪk/, /ˈfrɛdərɪk/; common respellings: FRED-rik, FRED-er-ik.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Fred, Freddie, Freddy, Frederic, Fredrik and Frederik.
Across languages, Frederick has these equivalents: Frédéric (French), Friedrich (German), Federico (Italian, Spanish), Frederico (Portuguese), Frederik (Dutch, Danish, Norwegian), and 5 more.
Yes, very popular — Frederick ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Frederick ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Frederick's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 25 notable people named Frederick are in our database, including Frederick II of Prussia (Royal), Frederick Barbarossa (Politician), Frederick Douglass (Politician).