What do you think of the name Fred?

[VerityH]

Not Freddie or Frederick, just Fred?

TBF Freddie is no more a "proper" name than Fred!

So Fred means the same as Fredrick?
Does that go for Rick as well? Or does only the first part of the name count? So if I loved the name Rick and called my son it, it would mean the same as Richard, not Fredrick?

I prefer Frederick, it’s our first choice for a boys name, I love that it’s versatile so he could go by Fred or Freddie as well, but I like Fred.

CountFosco but he was known universally as Tony. Whatever you might have thought of him, it didn’t do him any harm being Tony rather than Anthony. Being called Fred as an adult in 20-30 years time will be fine.

@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!

Wow 😮 at the comments

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

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

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

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

I like it
*may be biased

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

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!

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

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

Love it....

Ds3 is Frederick...shortened to Fred

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?

Immediate association: Fred West

I love Frederick and Freddie

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

I like it. Much prefer it over Freddie.

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 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.

dislike. like freddie

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.

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

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.

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

Just Fred sounds a bit jokey. Like Fred Flintstone.