Fredrikke is the Norwegian feminine form of Frederick. The masculine name Frederick derives from the Old German elements fridu meaning "peace" and rih meaning "ruler, king," thus giving the meaning "peaceful ruler." The feminine ending -rikke in Norwegian mirrors the Danish form Frederikke, though the two are essentially the same name with slight spelling variations.History and UsageFredrikke has been in use in Norway since at least the 18th century, coinciding with the period when German names gained popularity in Scandinavian royal and noble circles. The name is uncommon in Norway today, though it still carries a classic, distinguished feel. It is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: fre-DREEK-uh.The root name Frederick has long been borne by rulers such as Frederick I Barbarossa (12th-century Holy Roman Emperor and crusader), Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great), and many Scandinavian monarchs. As a feminine parallele, Fredrikke appears in Norwegian history primarily among the upper class educated and influenced by German and Danish culture.Notable BearersAmong noteworthy individuals named Fredrikke is Fredrikke Qvam (1843–1938), a Norwegian women's rights activist and co-founder of the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights. Another is Fredrikke Palmer (1860–1947), an American illustrator but of Norwegian ancestry. The name also gained some sentiment from Fredrikke Nielsen, a Norwegian actress of the early 20th century.VariantsIn addition to the Danish Frederikke, feminine variants exist in many languages: Portuguese Frederica, Czech Bedřiška, German Frieda, and the English short form Rica. Diminutives also include Danish Rikke. The masculine forms in Norwegian include Fredrik and Fred.Meaning: peaceful rulerOrigin: Norwegian feminine form of FrederickType: Given nameUsage: Norwegian