Richard
Richard is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Brave ruler or powerful leader.
Origin and history
Richard is derived from ancient Germanic elements meaning 'brave ruler' or 'powerful leader'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, it became one of the most enduring masculine names in Western culture. It was exceptionally popular throughout the twentieth century in the United States and remains a recognized classic today.
Popularity in the United States
2,577,552 babies in the United States have been named Richard since 1880. It ranks #8 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #220.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.4 %)
- CA (8.8 %)
- PA (7.3 %)
- OH (6.1 %)
- IL (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7,010 |
| 1890-1900 | 7,572 |
| 1900-1910 | 10,675 |
| 1910-1920 | 74,603 |
| 1920-1930 | 222,599 |
| 1930-1940 | 330,502 |
| 1940-1950 | 477,476 |
| 1950-1960 | 535,461 |
| 1960-1970 | 373,907 |
| 1970-1980 | 202,804 |
| 1980-1990 | 154,745 |
| 1990-2000 | 94,876 |
| 2000-2010 | 48,582 |
| 2010-2019 | 26,747 |
| 2020-2029 | 9,993 |
Famous people named Richard
- Richard Nixon: President, Politician
- Richard Feynman: Physicist, Professor
- Richard Gere: Actor
Nicknames
Rick, Ricky, Rich, Richie, Dick
Fun facts
- The name was brought to England by the Normans in 1066 and rapidly became one of the most common male names.
- Richard was a top-10 most popular boy name in the United States for nearly five decades during the twentieth century.