Frédéric

Frédéric is a masculine given name, the French form of the name Frederick. It derives from the Germanic elements fridur (peace) and ric (ruler), together meaning "peaceful ruler" or "ruler of peace."

In French-speaking countries, Frédéric has been a common name since the 18th century, especially in France, Belgium, and parts of Canada. Variants include Frederic (unaccented in English-speaking contexts), Frederik (Dutch, Danish, Norwegian), and Frédérique (feminine). Diminutives or nicknames include Fréd, Frédo, and Fred.

Notable people named Frédéric include Frédéric Chopin (Frédéric François Chopin, 1810–1849), Polish-born composer and pianist who became a leading figure in Romantic music; Frédéric Bastiat (1801–1850), French economist and writer; Frédéric Mistral (1830–1914), Provençal poet and Nobel laureate; Frédéric Ozanam (1813–1853), scholar and philanthropist; Frédéric Joliot-Curie (1900–1958), French physicist and Nobel laureate.

Today, Frédéric remains a recognizable and enduring name in French-speaking communities.