Given name & surname · also Germanic
Frieda
“a peaceful ruler”
Frieda is a variant of Frederica. In German use, Frederica carries the interpretation “a peaceful ruler.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Frieda is a variant of Frederica. In German use, Frederica carries the interpretation “a peaceful ruler.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Frieda comes from Germanic, and ultimately from Germanic languages.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Frieda through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 25,506
- 0 boys · 25,506 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 838 babies
- 2025
- 36
- #4,012 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −4%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 36 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,012 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 3.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 838 in 1916. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,400 as a first name in 2020; 171 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Frieda’s family of names
In German usage, Frieda is a diminutive of Friederike. In German usage, Frieda has a related form in Freda. In German usage, Frieda has a related form in Frida.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Frieda
- Frieda Fromm-ReichmannAmerican German-born psychiatrist & psychoanalyst1889–1957
- Frieda BelinfanteDutch-American conductor and resistance fighter (1904-1995)
- Frieda InescortScottish actress (1901–1976)
- Frieda Dänzeralpine skier (1931-2015)
- Frieda HempelGerman soprano singer (1885–1955)
- Frieda BrepoelsFlemish politicianborn 1955
- Frieda Robscheit-RobbinsGerman-born American pathologist1888–1973
- Frieda Kwast-HodappGerman pianist and piano teacher1880–1949
- Frieda HughesEnglish-born Australian poet and painter (born 1960)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Frieda, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hilda
“a battlemaiden”
>99% girls
Minna
“determined protector” · “one who is resolute; having great strength”
>99% girls
Irma
“a universal woman”
>99% girls
Tilda
“one who is mighty in battle”
>99% girls
Elma
“having God's protection”
>99% girls
Rilla
“from the small brook”
>99% girls
Bertha
“one who is famously bright and beautiful”
>99% girls
Zella
“one who resists”
>99% girls