What do you think of the name Fred?

. Guess you can't really tell your friend that.

Pemba, totally fair comment to make and if she wasnt my friend (therefore just trying to be supportive) I'd probably be an eye-roller as well. I mentioned it to warn the OP that she will probably struggle if she wanted it to be just Fred. You've very nicely confirmed that with your response.

Your friend is daft and a bit precious about it. Adding an 'y/ie' on the end of a name (especially for a child) is just a natural thing to do, and a term of endearment.

The nursery staff probably rolled their eyes. And 'Fred' is just so blokey. You picture a balding builder with tattoos up his arms. Not a cute two year old.

A friend of mine has a Fred and is adamant that he's just 'Fred'. All the family and friends only call him that but unfortunately anyone else who meets him immediately calls him Freddie after being introduced, it's just a reaction I think to a cute toddler. My friend had to specifically ask her nursery to please stop calling him Freddie and refer to him as just Fred (which she hated having to do) but still gets notes home saying 'look what Freddie drew you today' etc... I think you either will end up having to put up with it or become a but annoying having to keep asking people to say Fred.
FWIW I love the name Fred!

OK but sounds incomplete as a stand alone name. Should be Frederick really.

Just Fred sounds a bit jokey. Like Fred Flintstone.

Will people think of Fred West in even ten years time? No, they probably won't have heard of him. Do you think of Jack the Ripper when someone's called Jack? No.

Fred is a lovely name, very cool.

It's ok. I wouldn't choose it but it's not for my baby.
I think of Right Said Fred (the band and the song) and Fred McAuliffe

I really don’t understand the whole argument about how your name will affect your success. I very much doubt he wouldn’t be prime minister because he’s called Fred. Surely if we encourage and educate and nurture our kids and give them confidence to carry their name they can achieve whatever they want.

I mean, we have a prime minister called Boris. And the president has a surname that is slang for farts.

Fred is absolutely fine.

dislike. like freddie

I don't like Fred, Freddie or Frederick.
No particular reason why, I just don't like the sound.
Fred on its own makes me think of an old man in a working man's club with a pint of bitter.

I like it but personally prefer to give a child a name with different versions so he has a choice when he grows up. I'd go for Frederick and call him Freddie as a baby. That said, Fred West won't be known to his generation so if the name 'Fred' floats your boat, go for it.

I like it. Much prefer it over Freddie.

I don't like it and my immediate thought was Fred West too.

Immediate association: Fred West

I love Frederick and Freddie

I always prefer a full name on the birth certificate even if it's hardly ever used.

I don't see the point personally. I spent years having to explain to people that my name is actually X but I'm known as Y. Changed my name to Y in the end because that's what I have been called since the day I was born. Can't work out why my mum put X on my birth certificate.

Imagine if your son became Prime Minister or a top judge or something and was just called Fred.

I don't really understand. Are people called Fred not allowed to be the PM?

Love it....

Ds3 is Frederick...shortened to Fred

If you go for a full name I prefer Alfred. I'm sure that can also be a Fred.

Love it. Cousins son is Fred, superb name. Classless, whereas Freddie is a bit posher I think.

I like it. As likely to be an aristocrat as a working class bloke, easy to spell, friendly. Also, I've known two absolutely stunning ones which helps!

I have a Frederick. We thought he would be Freddie, which he is with everyone else, school etc. But at home it’s usually Fred! But he has three choices with his name, which we like

My DS 6yo is a Frederick, called Freddie as a baby, but is Fred more and more.

I like it
*may be biased

My dad is a Fred(erick), named after his father. Everyone calls him by his middle name as he hates it.

Thanks totallyesno Didn't know Fred on its own means peace. That must mean it is a name in its own right?

Wow 😮 at the comments

My ds is called Freddie, he's 15 now and prefers Fred.

@Cosyblanky - well, surely you can choose what name you are abbreviating within reason? Most names have numerous versions, in many languages. For most people the literal meaning is not obvious (apart from a few exceptions when the name is also a common noun or adjective).

However, Frederick means peaceful ruler. Fred on its own actually means peace. Alfred is different though related. So Fred does have a meaning!