Ricky
Ricky is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Brave ruler or powerful leader.
Origin and history
Ricky originated as a diminutive of Richard, derived from Germanic elements meaning brave ruler. It gained strong popularity as an independent given name in the mid-20th century in the United States. Although its popularity has declined since its peak, it remains a recognized classic American name.
Popularity in the United States
223,145 babies in the United States have been named Ricky since 1880. It ranks #171 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #778.
States where it is most popular
- TX (9.8 %)
- CA (7.7 %)
- NC (5.9 %)
- TN (4.8 %)
- GA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 41 |
| 1930-1940 | 185 |
| 1940-1950 | 6,796 |
| 1950-1960 | 79,170 |
| 1960-1970 | 66,402 |
| 1970-1980 | 22,071 |
| 1980-1990 | 20,157 |
| 1990-2000 | 13,418 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,173 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,931 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,801 |
Famous people named Ricky
- Ricky Nelson: musician, actor
- Ricky Gervais: comedian, actor
- Ricky Martin: singer, actor
Nicknames
Rick
Fun facts
- Ricky rose rapidly in popularity during the 1950s, largely influenced by pop culture figures like Ricky Nelson.
- Originally just a short form for Richard, Ricky became a standalone given name registered on thousands of U.S. birth certificates.