Richard
Richard: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əd/ · /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.ɚd/
Meaning and origin of Richard
Root meaning: “king, ruler”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
From Middle English Rycharde, from Old French Richard, from Medieval Latin Richardus, Ricohardus, from Frankish *Rīkahard, from Proto-Germanic *Rīkaharduz, a construction of *rīks (“king, ruler”) + *harduz (“hard, brave”). Cognate with Old High German Rīcohard (“Richard”). Partially related to rich. A hypothetical Old English equivalent *Rīċheard would also yield an identical "Richard" in Modern English, though it is unknown if the Old English equivalent existed.
How popular is Richard?
Since 1880, 9,530 girls and 2,577,552 boys in the U.S. have been named Richard (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #477 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #5 in 1930. In 2025 it ranked #234 for boys, with 1,505 babies given the name.
Names similar to Richard
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Richard
Sister and brother names that share Richard's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Richard FAQ
What does the name Richard mean?
Richard traces back to a root meaning "king, ruler". A male given name from the Germanic languages. From Middle English Rycharde, from Old French Richard, from Medieval Latin Richardus, Ricohardus, from Frankish *Rīkahard, from Proto-Germanic *Rīkaharduz, a construction of *rīks (“king, ruler”) + *harduz (“hard, brave”). Cognate with Old High German Rīcohard (“Richard”). Partially related to rich. A hypothetical Old English equivalent *Rīċheard would also yield an identical "Richard" in Modern English, though it is unknown if the Old English equivalent existed.
What is the origin of the name Richard?
Richard is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Richard?
Since 1880, 9,530 girls and 2,577,552 boys in the U.S. have been named Richard (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #477 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #5 in 1930. In 2025 it ranked #234 for boys, with 1,505 babies given the name.
Is Richard a boy or girl name?
Richard is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 9,530 girls and 2,577,552 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.