Fredrik is of Scandinavian origin, specifically Old Norse, and means "peaceful ruler." It is derived from the elements 'fríðr' meaning peaceful and 'ríkr' meaning powerful or wealthy. This name has a strong historical presence in Scandinavia, particularly among royalty and nobility. In Sweden, it is often spelled with an umlaut over the 'i,' rendering it as Fredrik.
The name Fredrik experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century, with peaks occurring most recently. Between 1924 and 2023, there were a total of 492 boys named Fredrik at birth. The highest number of births was recorded in 2020 and 2023, each with 28 and 20 respectively, while the lowest occurred in 1924 and 1937 with only 5 births each year.