Frederick - Origin and Meaning of the name

[ 2 syll. fre-de-ric(k), fr-ederi-ck ] The boy name Frederick is pronounced as FREHDRihK or FREHDerihK ^KEY. Frederick is an English name of Germanic origin. The name is of the meaning peaceful ruler. Two-element name derived from the elements 'fridu' meaning peace, protection, safety ; 'ric' meaning rich, powerful, ruler. Fridurich (Germanic) and Frithareiks (Gothic) are older forms of Frederick. The name was introduced by the Normans to England in the 11th century, but it was more popular in continental Europe then, especially among royalty, rather than in England. The name saw a revival among English speakers in the 18th century amidst the enthusiasm for Germanic names when Hanover and Britain were united. In Irish, the name is used as an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Feardorcha. The name Frederica (English and Portuguese) is the female equivalent of Frederick.

Frederick is a widely used name; it has 47 variants that are used in both English and other languages. Variants of Frederick used in English include Fredric, Fredrick, Fredrik (also used in Scandinavian), Fritz (also used in German and Scandinavian), and Rickie. Other English forms include the short form Fred, the pet forms Eric (also used in French), Erick, Erik (also used in Czech, Dutch, German, and Scandinavian), Fredd, Freddie, Freddy, Ric, Rick, Rickey, Ricky, and Rikki, and the variant spelling Frederic.

Foreign variants of Frederick include Bedrich (Czech), Bedrisek (Czech), Béda (Czech), Federico (Italian and Spanish), Federigo (Italian and Spanish), Federoquito (Spanish), Fiete (Frisian and German), Fredek (Polish), Frederico (Portuguese), Frederik (German and Scandinavian), Fredi (German), Fredrich (German), Frerik (Dutch), Frédéric (French), Frides (Hungarian), Fridolin (German), Fridrich (Czech and Russian), Friedel (German), Frieder (German), Friederich (German), Friedrich (German), Fritzchen (German), Fritzi (Hungarian), Fryderyk (Polish), Lico (Spanish), Rico (Spanish and Italian), and Riki (Estonian). Specific foreign variants include the pet forms Fredy (German) and Rik (Dutch).

Frederick is a classic favorite. Currently it is still fairly popular as a baby name for boys, though it was in more widespread use previously. At the modest height of its usage in 1913, 0.372% of baby boys were given the name Frederick. Its ranking then was #49. The baby name has since experienced a marked fall in popularity, and is of occasional use in recent years. In 2008, its usage was only 0.024% and its ranking #523. Within the group of boy names directly linked to Frederick, Eric (English, French, and Scandinavian) was the most regularly used. In 2008, its use outnumbered Frederick's by 10 times.

Baby names that sound like Frederick include Frederic (English), Fredric (English), Fredrich (German), Fredrick (English), Fredrik (English and Scandinavian), Frédéric (French), Fridrich (Czech and Russian), Friedrich (German), Friederich (German), Fryderyk (Polish), Frederico (Portuguese), and Frederik (German and Scandinavian).

Details of famous persons named Frederick:
Actor Freddie Prinze, born Frederick Karl Pruetzel, 22 June 1954 - 29 January 1977, New York, New York.
Animator Tex Avery, born Frederick Bean Avery, 26 February 1908 - 26 August 1980, Taylor, Texas.
Anti-slavery Activist Frederick Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, 20 February 1895, Near Easton, Maryland.
Architect Frederick Law Olmsted, born 1822 - 28 August 1903, Hartford, Connecticut.
Dancer Fred Astaire, born Frederick Austerlitz, 10 May 1899 - 22 June 1987, Omaha, Nebraska.
Physician Frederick Banting, born 14 November 1891 - 21 February 1941, Alliston, Ontario, Canada.

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