Fredrick is a simplified spelling of Frederick, from the Germanic frid, "peace", and ric, "ruler", so the name means "peaceful ruler". Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and orator, remains the name's most honored American bearer, and the short forms Fred and Freddie have a friendly, old-school feel. Fredrick stood at number 718 in the United States in 2000, slipped out of the top 1000 and ranks number 1736 among boys' names in 2025.