Friedrich was the boy who whipped the dog in Struwwelpeter. I'm guessing, though, that his parents misnamed him in the book, due to the name's meaning.
Friedrich can be shortened to Fritz for familiar and casual use. It is a lovely name that one does not hear very often anymore outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is most widely recognized in North America as the name of a popular brand of appliances (air conditioners in particular), which may dissuade parents in the region from choosing the name.
― Anonymous User 6/23/2020
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Friedrich Hayek (1899-1992) was a well-known classical liberal economist.
― Anonymous User 10/29/2019
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Classic German name.
― Anonymous User 11/13/2018
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Estonian version: Priit (pronunciation in English: Preet). [noted -ed]
I always thought this was *the* traditional stereotype name for traditionally stereotyped Germans (pre-World War stereotypes, anyway), but no one in the comments have said so, so maybe I had the wrong impression. (Thank goodness, because I have a German story-character I love and wanted to name him Friedrich, but was worried about following stereotypes.) I'm not sure where that impression could have come from, besides reading about the rather awesome Professor Friedrich Bhaer in Louisa Alcott's book "Little Women".
Friedrich was the name of three sons of King Frederick William I of Prussia and his wife Sophie. 1. Friedrich Ludwig (1707-1708) 2. Friedrich Wilhelm (1710-1711) 3. Friedrich (1712-1786).
Friedrich (1720-1721) was the oldest son of Augustus III of Poland and his wife Maria Josepha. This was also the name of his younger brother (1722-1763).
Friedrich was the real name of director Fritz Lang (1890-1976).
― Anonymous User 1/14/2009
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Old-fashioned and harsh in sound. Besides, I hate Nietzsche with a flaming passion. He has influenced so many horrendous people to kill others and to view people as too weak and unfit for the world. Hitler is one, but some school shooters have been known to worship the man.
Yeah because USA is a language! I think that if I were to name my son this or Frederick we would call him Fred regardless so I may choose to use the English version over German to simplify things.
Pronounced FREED-rikh. (note: 'kh' is not the exact pronunciation here but it is closest to the German 'ch') This name was very common in Germany until about 50 years ago. Today it is rarely used on babies. [noted -ed]
Actually, I know someone with this name who pronounces it like "Fredrick". He really hates it when people pronounce it "Freed-rick" but I'm not sure if he's pronouncing it right himself.
Friedrich was used as the name of the eldest von Trapp son in the movie "The Sound of Music". Friedrich's character represented the real eldest son (who was in fact the firstborn child, not the second), who was named Rupert.
Famous bearer is Friedrich Schiller, German poet and writer.
― Anonymous User 5/26/2006
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Famous bearer is Friedrich Ebert, the first President of Germany.
― Anonymous User 3/26/2006
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The older of the two vonTrapp boys was called this in The Sound of Music.
― Anonymous User 12/14/2005
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My great grandfather came to America just over a hundred years ago from Germany not able to speak a word of English, so to fit in better he changed his name from Friedrich to Fred and taught himself how to speak English and never spoke a word of German to his children to make them more American. I would name a child after him but I know how much it would tic him off. lol (useless I know but what can I say, I felt like sharing)