The nameCedric
Cedric is a name invented by Walter Scott for his novel Ivanhoe.
- Boy's name
- English
Meaning
Cedric is thought to be a misreading of Cerdic, the name of the first king of Wessex.
Origin
English, from Old English.
History
Walter Scott used Cedric in Ivanhoe in 1819, and Little Lord Fauntleroy, Cedric Errol, made it fashionable. In the United States it reached 230th in 1974.
Cedric in other languages
Cédric is the French spelling of Cedric. The name is rare outside France and English speaking countries. It owes much to Walter Scott and to the novel Little Lord Fauntleroy, whose hero is named Cedric.
Nicknames for Cedric
The most common nicknames for Cedric: Ced.
Did you know?
- Walter Scott's Cedric in Ivanhoe is thought to come from a misreading of the Saxon name Cerdic.
- The French mathematician Cédric Villani won the Fields Medal in 2010.
Famous people named Cedric
- Cedric Diggory, character in Harry Potter
- Cedric the Entertainer, comedian
- Cédric Villani, mathematician
Popularity of the name Cedric
Cedric in the United States
Cedric was most popular in the United States in the 1970s, with 8,798 births over the decade, 21% of all recorded babies named Cedric. Its rise began around 1950, and it peaked in 1982. Half of all babies named Cedric in the United States were born before 1980, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 223 births a year.
Cedric in France
Cedric was most popular in France in the 1980s, with 64,355 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Cedric. Its rise began around 1970, and it peaked in 1978. Half of all babies named Cedric in France were born before 1981, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 25 births a year on average, against 50 in the five years before.
Cedric in Belgium
Cedric in Switzerland
Sibling names for Cedric
Names from the same generation as Cedric, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Cedric? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Cedric with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Cedric side by side with the name of your choice.
Cedric in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cedric mean?
Cedric is thought to be a misreading of Cerdic, the name of the first king of Wessex.
What is the origin of the name Cedric?
English, from Old English.
Is Cedric a girl's or a boy's name?
Cedric is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Cedric?
In 2024, Cedric was the 944th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 242 births.
What are good sibling names for Cedric?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Darlene, Holly, Melinda and Linda for a sister, Bobby, Nelson, Tommy and Stanley for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Cedric?
The most common nicknames for Cedric are Ced.
Who are famous people named Cedric?
Cedric Diggory, character in Harry Potter; Cedric the Entertainer, comedian; Cédric Villani, mathematician.