Fred

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Fred

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Fred is short for many Germanic names like Frederick, Alfred, or Wilfred. It comes from “fried,” meaning “Peace.”

History:
During the 20th century, Fred was far more popular than Frederick, Alfred, or Wilfred.

Pronunciation: fred.

Alternates: Freddy, Freddie.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Fred Allen (John Florence Sullivan) (1894-1956)
American humorist.

Miscellaneous:
Fred Harvey (1835-1901)
American entrepreneurs. Founder of the Harvey Houses.
Fred Merkle (1888-1956)
American baseball player.
Fred W. Friendly (1915-1998)
American broadcast journalist.
Fred Lebow (Frischl Lebowitz) (1932-1994)
Organized the New York City Marathon.
Fred W. Haise, Jr. (1933-)
American astronaut.

Political Figures:
Fred M. Vinson (1890-1953)
American Chief Justice.

Scientists:
Sir Fred Hoyle (1915-)
British mathematician.

Singers and Entertainers:
Fred Stone (1873-1959)
German actor.
Fred Astaire (Frederick Austerlitz) (1899-1987)
American dancer and actor.
Fred Zinnemann (1907-1997)
Austrian-American filmmaker.
Fred MacMurray (1908-)
American actor.
Fred H. Gwynne (1926-1993)
American actor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.251 % named Fred
0.046 % named Freddie
0.016 % named Freddy

Popularity of Fred:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 80th most popular.
1850: 25th most popular.
1875: 22nd most popular.
1900-1910: 19th most popular.
1910-1920: 25th most popular.
1920-1930: 34th most popular.
1930-1940: 34th most popular.
1940-1950: 53rd most popular.
1950-1960: 99th most popular.
1960-1970: 138th most popular.
1970-1980: 242nd most popular.
1980-1990: 390th most popular.
1990: 519th most popular.
1991: 524th most popular.
1992: 591st most popular.
1993: 590th most popular.
1994: 650th most popular.
1995: 673rd most popular.
1996: 651st most popular.
1997: 715th most popular.
1998: 758th most popular.
1999: 787th most popular.
2000: 973rd most popular.
2001: 874th most popular.
2002: 874th most popular.