Dick
Dick is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Brave ruler, powerful ruler.
Origin and history
Dick originated as a medieval English rhyming diminutive of Richard, which derives from Germanic elements meaning brave ruler. Historically popular in the United States during the early-to-mid 20th century, its standalone usage as a given name has sharply declined in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
29,273 babies in the United States have been named Dick since 1880. It ranks #689 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12 %)
- OH (8 %)
- IA (7.5 %)
- IL (6.6 %)
- WA (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 246 |
| 1890-1900 | 249 |
| 1900-1910 | 329 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,517 |
| 1920-1930 | 5,498 |
| 1930-1940 | 10,163 |
| 1940-1950 | 7,562 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,140 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,110 |
| 1970-1980 | 288 |
| 1980-1990 | 121 |
| 1990-2000 | 33 |
| 2000-2010 | 17 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Dick
- Dick Van Dyke: actor, comedian
- Dick Cheney: politician, government official
- Dick Clark: television host, producer
Fun facts
- It arose in medieval England through the practice of rhyming nicknames derived from Richard.
- The name was most commonly given as a formal first name in the United States between the 1920s and 1940s.