Last night, I was searching for name inspiration and I saw the thread about [name]Frederick[/name]. It reminded me that my husband has said that he really likes [name]Frederick[/name], largely because of A Farewell to Arms. I got really excited because I love the idea of [name]Gus[/name], [name]Harry[/name], and [name]Freddy[/name] as brothers, and I think [name]Henry[/name] and [name]Frederick[/name] would be great twin names. But mostly, I got excited because I thought of a way to get my husband to consider using [name]Henry[/name] (when he prefers [name]Harrison[/name]).
As I mentioned, his love of [name]Frederick[/name] stems from his love of A Farewell to Arms and [name]Hemingway[/name] in general. Well, the protagonist of A Farewell to Arms is named [name]Frederic[/name] [name]Henry[/name], and called both [name]Fred[/name] and [name]Henry[/name]. I knew that if I pitched [name]Henry[/name] and [name]Frederick[/name] as a literary pair and as a way to honor [name]Hemingway[/name], he would listen. And it worked! He said that he “actually really likes that idea”.
But there are a few issues.
In A Farewell to Arms, it’s spelled [name]Frederic[/name], not [name]Frederick[/name]. And as a result, my husband prefers the former. I’m not opposed to the idea of using [name]Frederic[/name], but I think using [name]Frederick[/name] would make his life much easier. I can imagine him saying “[name]Frederic[/name] without the k” again and again and again. But my husband is pretty adamant about [name]Frederic[/name]. Should I insist on [name]Frederick[/name]? Or is [name]Frederic[/name] not that bad?
Would you spell the nickname [name]Freddie[/name] or [name]Freddy[/name]? I would think [name]Freddy[/name] makes more sense. It’s shorter and the y ending is usually more masculine than ie. But I know that in [name]England[/name], [name]Freddie[/name] is the more popular spelling. Which do you prefer? Is one the “conventional” spelling? If you heard the name, how would you spell it?
Thanks!
Haha, that was my [name]Frederick[/name] post so clearly I’m still torn on many of these things too…but good for you for finding a name you both really like!
I do know a [name]Frederico[/name], I believe [name]Frederico[/name]/[name]Federico[/name] is the common form in [name]Italy[/name] and much of South [name]America[/name]. I think it’s cool sounding, but very different from [name]Frederick[/name] for me. Im with you that “[name]Frederic[/name] without the K” could get old fast. Actually, now that I think about it, I say [name]Frederick[/name] and [name]Frederic[/name] differently! [name]Frederick[/name] is emphasis on first syllable and sounds almost like 2 syllables FREH-drick, and [name]Frederic[/name] is very clearly 3 sylables, emphasis on the last fred-eh-REEC. [name]Hope[/name] that all made sense, Im awful at explaining pronunciation!
I far prefer [name]Freddie[/name] to [name]Freddy[/name], the ie just looks nicer to me.
[name]Frederick[/name] and [name]Freddie[/name]. [name]Frederick[/name] and [name]Henry[/name] are perfect together 
[name]Frederick[/name] is a name that I love too, not just because of [name]Hemingway[/name] but it has great sentimental value too. My Grandfather who passed away in [name]March[/name] was a [name]Frederick[/name], and his nickname was [name]Freddy[/name] or [name]Fred[/name]. I know that [name]Freddie[/name] is the more English spelling, but it doesn’t make as much sense to me. I prefer [name]Frederick[/name] to to [name]Frederic[/name] for many reasons. The first has already been said. I also find the [name]Frederick[/name] spelling much clearer, and to the point. It would be irritating if you had to constatnly say “I’m Fredierick without the K.” And like lineska, I think [name]Frederick[/name] and [name]Frederic[/name] are pronounced a bit differently.
I hope that helps!
I prefer it spelled [name]Frederic[/name], to be honest. I think of both as valid spellings… I just like it spelled [name]Frederic[/name]. (I’m also a big [name]Hemingway[/name] fan, too, so maybe I’m influenced by that.) In any case, I think either [name]Freddie[/name] or [name]Freddy[/name] would work. I think they both look good. If someone said it to me and didn’t spell it, I’d probably spell it [name]Freddie[/name]. But either works.
I prefer the spelling [name]Frederick[/name] over [name]Frederic[/name]. But even though that is my preference, I don’t think it will be that much of a hassle. As for the nn…this is one of the few male nns I like with an -ie ([name]Freddie[/name], [name]Frankie[/name], and [name]Eddie[/name]).