Freda Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FREH-duh //ˈfrɛdə//
Origin: German; Old English
Meaning: German: peace; Old English: joyful
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Freda has its roots in Old German, derived from the word "frid," meaning "peace." This etymology reflects a broader linguistic lineage, as it can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *frijō, which also conveys the notion of love or peace. The name was introduced into English through the Old French form "Freda" during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Germanic names began to permeate the English language, often adapting to the phonetic and orthographic conventions of French and English.
Historically, the name Freda has been associated with various notable figures. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 19th century, although it is likely that variations of the name existed earlier in different forms.
The name gained some recognition through its association with the Old English word "frēod," which also denotes freedom or peace, further enriching its cultural significance. Additionally, the name has been linked to figures in literature and folklore, contributing to its resonance in various cultural contexts.
Culturally, Freda embodies themes of peace and harmony, making it a name that carries positive connotations. The name's association with tranquility has allowed it to endure through the centuries, resonating with parents seeking names that evoke a sense of calm and stability.
A diminutive form, "Frieda," has also been used historically, particularly in German-speaking regions, which further illustrates the name's adaptability and enduring appeal across different cultures. Overall, Freda's etymological roots and historical significance reflect a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural heritage.
Famous people named Freda
In this section, you will find notable people named Freda. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Freda who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Freda who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Freda Payne is a singer and actress best known for Band of Gold, Bring the Boys Home, and The Happiest Millionaire.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Freda, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Freda. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Freda was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Freda has ranked as high as #341 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Missouri.
In the past 5 years the name Freda has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Freda is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Freda was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Freda.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2024 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2021 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 2019 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2015 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2013 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 2011 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2010 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2005 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2003 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 2002 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 2001 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1999 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1998 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1997 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1995 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1994 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1993 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1992 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1991 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1990 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1989 | 32 | 0 | 32 |
| 1988 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| 1987 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1986 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1985 | 48 | 0 | 48 |
| 1984 | 54 | 0 | 54 |
| 1983 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1982 | 75 | 0 | 75 |
| 1981 | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| 1980 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 1979 | 88 | 0 | 88 |
| 1978 | 111 | 0 | 111 |
| 1977 | 114 | 0 | 114 |
| 1976 | 109 | 0 | 109 |
| 1975 | 132 | 0 | 132 |
| 1974 | 128 | 0 | 128 |
| 1973 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 1972 | 169 | 0 | 169 |
| 1971 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 1970 | 145 | 0 | 145 |
| 1969 | 137 | 0 | 137 |
| 1968 | 150 | 0 | 150 |
| 1967 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 1966 | 193 | 0 | 193 |
| 1965 | 263 | 0 | 263 |
| 1964 | 276 | 0 | 276 |
| 1963 | 317 | 0 | 317 |
| 1962 | 342 | 0 | 342 |
| 1961 | 444 | 0 | 444 |
| 1960 | 449 | 0 | 449 |
| 1959 | 458 | 0 | 458 |
| 1958 | 461 | 0 | 461 |
| 1957 | 493 | 0 | 493 |
| 1956 | 527 | 0 | 527 |
| 1955 | 507 | 0 | 507 |
| 1954 | 476 | 0 | 476 |
| 1953 | 521 | 0 | 521 |
| 1952 | 430 | 0 | 430 |
| 1951 | 466 | 0 | 466 |
| 1950 | 437 | 0 | 437 |
| 1949 | 413 | 0 | 413 |
| 1948 | 469 | 0 | 469 |
| 1947 | 501 | 0 | 501 |
| 1946 | 471 | 0 | 471 |
| 1945 | 438 | 0 | 438 |
| 1944 | 467 | 0 | 467 |
| 1943 | 552 | 0 | 552 |
| 1942 | 509 | 6 | 503 |
| 1941 | 496 | 5 | 491 |
| 1940 | 487 | 0 | 487 |
| 1939 | 538 | 0 | 538 |
| 1938 | 544 | 0 | 544 |
| 1937 | 528 | 0 | 528 |
| 1936 | 495 | 0 | 495 |
| 1935 | 628 | 5 | 623 |
| 1934 | 651 | 0 | 651 |
| 1933 | 588 | 0 | 588 |
| 1932 | 603 | 0 | 603 |
| 1931 | 640 | 0 | 640 |
| 1930 | 610 | 0 | 610 |
| 1929 | 696 | 0 | 696 |
| 1928 | 748 | 0 | 748 |
| 1927 | 819 | 0 | 819 |
| 1926 | 830 | 0 | 830 |
| 1925 | 889 | 0 | 889 |
| 1924 | 914 | 0 | 914 |
| 1923 | 868 | 0 | 868 |
| 1922 | 924 | 0 | 924 |
| 1921 | 970 | 0 | 970 |
| 1920 | 974 | 0 | 974 |
| 1919 | 905 | 5 | 900 |
| 1918 | 1,025 | 0 | 1,025 |
| 1917 | 1,010 | 0 | 1,010 |
| 1916 | 948 | 0 | 948 |
| 1915 | 944 | 0 | 944 |
| 1914 | 689 | 0 | 689 |
| 1913 | 613 | 0 | 613 |
| 1912 | 566 | 0 | 566 |
| 1911 | 413 | 0 | 413 |
| 1910 | 345 | 0 | 345 |
| 1909 | 326 | 5 | 321 |
| 1908 | 349 | 0 | 349 |
| 1907 | 306 | 0 | 306 |
| 1906 | 287 | 0 | 287 |
| 1905 | 310 | 0 | 310 |
| 1904 | 256 | 0 | 256 |
| 1903 | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| 1902 | 247 | 0 | 247 |
| 1901 | 255 | 0 | 255 |
| 1900 | 321 | 0 | 321 |
| 1899 | 266 | 0 | 266 |
| 1898 | 273 | 0 | 273 |
| 1897 | 279 | 0 | 279 |
| 1896 | 246 | 0 | 246 |
| 1895 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| 1894 | 227 | 0 | 227 |
| 1893 | 231 | 0 | 231 |
| 1892 | 229 | 0 | 229 |
| 1891 | 161 | 0 | 161 |
| 1890 | 127 | 0 | 127 |
| 1889 | 112 | 0 | 112 |
| 1888 | 95 | 0 | 95 |
| 1887 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 1886 | 66 | 0 | 66 |
| 1885 | 67 | 0 | 67 |
| 1884 | 61 | 0 | 61 |
| 1883 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1882 | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| 1881 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1880 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
Top States for Freda (2016)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |