Richard
Meaning & Origin
Meaning: Brave Ruler; Strong Leader
Background: The name Richard originates from the Old High German name 'Richard,' composed of the elements 'ric,' meaning 'ruler' or 'king,' and 'hard,' meaning 'brave' or 'strong.' This name was adopted into Old French as 'Richard,' and later influenced by Latin forms. The historical significance of the name has led to its longstanding use in various contexts.
At a glance
Quick stats based on the history of this name.
Lifetime rank
#8
Total births
2,585,535
Most popular decade
1940s
(1,435,944 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-91 ranks)
Years in Top 100
128
First recorded year
1880
Gender usage
99.6% male
0.4% female
Stats by gender
Male
- First year
- 1880
- First year births
- 728
- First year rank
- #23
- Peak year
- 1946
- Peak year births
- 58,871
- Peak rank
- #5
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 1,539
- Recent rank
- #232
Female
- First year
- 1886
- First year births
- 8
- First year rank
- #828
- Peak year
- 1928
- Peak year births
- 201
- Peak rank
- #482
- Most recent year
- 2022
- Recent year births
- 6
- Recent rank
- #13,584
Births over time
Number of babies given this name each year.
Rank over time
Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).