Frederick
Boy name · #435 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Frederick? In official American birth records, Frederick has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 728 baby boys were named Frederick, placing it at #435 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #515, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,473 boys born in 2025 was named Frederick.
The 145-year story
Frederick first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 483 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1951, when 4,984 boys were named Frederick — good for #78 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Frederick per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Frederick against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Frederick in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Frederick is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Frederick is most common
Geography matters for names, and Frederick is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Frederick is most common in MN (1.2 per 1,000), CT (1.1 per 1,000), OR (1.1 per 1,000), WI (0.9 per 1,000), KS (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Frederick is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Frederick
Frederick carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Frederick family went to about 1,051 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #324, versus #435 for Frederick alone.
Names like Frederick
Statistically, parents drawn to Frederick tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Fredrick, Patrick, Lawrence, Nick, and Stephen.
FredrickPatrickLawrenceNickStephenJohnnyFranklinRussell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Frederick | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 728 | #435 |
| 2024 | 747 | #422 |
| 2023 | 596 | #506 |
| 2022 | 648 | #478 |
| 2021 | 629 | #476 |
| 2020 | 613 | #484 |
| 2019 | 615 | #476 |
| 2018 | 575 | #499 |
| 2017 | 581 | #499 |
| 2016 | 583 | #512 |
| 2015 | 558 | #515 |
| 2014 | 567 | #496 |
| 2013 | 556 | #492 |
| 2012 | 488 | #535 |
| 2011 | 472 | #540 |
| 2010 | 527 | #493 |
| 2009 | 491 | #538 |
| 2008 | 521 | #521 |
| 2007 | 484 | #530 |
| 2006 | 556 | #475 |
| 2005 | 569 | #450 |
| 2004 | 581 | #447 |
| 2003 | 587 | #432 |
| 2002 | 580 | #429 |
| 2001 | 614 | #408 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Frederick?
In official American birth records, the name Frederick first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 483 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Frederick a popular boy name?
Frederick ranked #435 among boys in 2025 with 728 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #515.
When was the name Frederick most popular?
Frederick peaked in 1951, when 4,984 American boys received the name (ranked #78 that year). Since 1951 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Frederick?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,473 newborn American boys was named Frederick. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.