The meaning of the name Fred is: Diminutive of Alfred: Sage, wise. From the Old English Aelfraed, meaning elf counsel. Also from Ealdfrith or Alfrid, meaning old peace. Handsome.
Grant Smith an onomastician at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, who studies the branch of linguistics dedicated to proper names. Smith specializes in dissecting the monikers (hummmm) of political candidates and says he has a 65 percent success rate of predicting elections, based solely on name analysis. Not entirely convincing, but those odds would play in Vegas.
"The name Fred is basic and homey," says Smith.
This instance of Fred is short for Frederick, not Alfred. The “alf” comes from the root meaning elf, and “red” counsel. Unless he has a source attaching the f- onto Frederick and retaining the same red- root, he hasn’t done his homework at all.