A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Fritz since 1880
Babies named Fritz per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fritz's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 165 |
| 1890s | 165 |
| 1900s | 137 |
| 1910s | 524 |
| 1920s | 657 |
| 1930s | 672 |
| 1940s | 595 |
| 1950s | 879 |
| 1960s | 746 |
| 1970s | 473 |
| 1980s | 373 |
| 1990s | 278 |
| 2000s | 270 |
| 2010s | 438 |
| 2020s | 311 |
Meaning & origin
Fritz is a German diminutive of Friedrich that has long been used as an independent given name, especially in German-speaking communities. In the United States, its popularity peaked in 1888, well before modern naming trends, and it fell out of common use for much of the 20th century. However, the name has been rising again since around 2005, with recent data showing it ranked 2718 in 2025, given to about 1 in 36,342 boys. The revival may be linked to a broader interest in vintage Germanic names. Top states for Fritz include Florida and Texas, which have large German-American populations.
Fritz originated as a German diminutive of Friedrich, from the Old High German elements 'fridu' meaning peace and 'rihhi' meaning ruler or power. It has been used as a standalone given name in German-speaking countries since the 19th century and was notably popular in the United States among German immigrant communities.
Where Fritz is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Fritz
Names that share Fritz's style, for a brother or sister.
