Rico Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REE-koh //ˈriː.koʊ//
Origin: Spanish; Italian
Meaning: Spanish: brave ruler; Italian: powerful
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rico has its roots in the Latin name "Ricardus," which is derived from the Germanic elements "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power," and "hard," meaning "brave" or "strong." This name evolved through various forms, including the Old High German "Richart" and the Old French "Richard," before being adapted into the Spanish and Italian diminutive form "Rico." The transition into English occurred primarily through the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where names like Richard became popular among the nobility. Historically, the name Richard has been borne by several notable figures, including Richard the Lionheart, King of England from 1189 to 1199, who is celebrated for his role in the Crusades.
The name has also been associated with various saints, particularly Saint Richard of Chichester, who lived in the 13th century and is venerated in the Catholic Church. The name's presence in literature and historical texts has contributed to its endurance, with references appearing in works such as the King James Bible, where the name Richard is indirectly linked through its biblical connotations of strength and leadership.
Culturally, the name Rico has come to symbolize qualities of bravery and nobility, reflecting its etymological roots. In Spanish-speaking cultures, Rico can also mean "rich" or "wealthy," adding another layer of significance.
The diminutive form "Rico" has been embraced in various contexts, often used affectionately or informally, which has helped maintain its relevance across generations. The name's historical associations and linguistic evolution underscore its lasting impact in various cultures.
Famous people named Rico
In this section, you will find notable people named Rico. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rico who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rico who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Rico Rodriguez is an actor best known for Modern Family, The Lion Guard, and The Book of Life.
Rico Yan was an actor best known for Got to Believe, Mula sa Puso, and the film Gimik: The Reunion.
Fictional characters named Rico
The following list of fictional characters named Rico is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Rico is a fictional character from the animated film series Happy Feet. He is a penguin known for his comedic personality and adventurous spirit.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rico, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rico. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rico was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Rico has ranked as high as #969 nationally, which occurred in 1976, and has been most popular in California, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Rico has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rico is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rico was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rico.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 89 | 89 | 0 |
| 2024 | 99 | 99 | 0 |
| 2023 | 107 | 107 | 0 |
| 2022 | 105 | 105 | 0 |
| 2021 | 125 | 125 | 0 |
| 2020 | 120 | 120 | 0 |
| 2019 | 137 | 137 | 0 |
| 2018 | 133 | 133 | 0 |
| 2017 | 148 | 148 | 0 |
| 2016 | 121 | 121 | 0 |
| 2015 | 123 | 123 | 0 |
| 2014 | 150 | 150 | 0 |
| 2013 | 127 | 127 | 0 |
| 2012 | 108 | 108 | 0 |
| 2011 | 143 | 143 | 0 |
| 2010 | 133 | 133 | 0 |
| 2009 | 126 | 126 | 0 |
| 2008 | 150 | 150 | 0 |
| 2007 | 148 | 148 | 0 |
| 2006 | 144 | 144 | 0 |
| 2005 | 116 | 116 | 0 |
| 2004 | 150 | 150 | 0 |
| 2003 | 114 | 114 | 0 |
| 2002 | 121 | 121 | 0 |
| 2001 | 103 | 103 | 0 |
| 2000 | 126 | 126 | 0 |
| 1999 | 130 | 130 | 0 |
| 1998 | 146 | 146 | 0 |
| 1997 | 143 | 143 | 0 |
| 1996 | 137 | 137 | 0 |
| 1995 | 157 | 157 | 0 |
| 1994 | 177 | 177 | 0 |
| 1993 | 232 | 232 | 0 |
| 1992 | 236 | 236 | 0 |
| 1991 | 319 | 319 | 0 |
| 1990 | 295 | 295 | 0 |
| 1989 | 280 | 280 | 0 |
| 1988 | 214 | 214 | 0 |
| 1987 | 175 | 175 | 0 |
| 1986 | 193 | 184 | 9 |
| 1985 | 146 | 146 | 0 |
| 1984 | 144 | 144 | 0 |
| 1983 | 157 | 157 | 0 |
| 1982 | 177 | 177 | 0 |
| 1981 | 151 | 151 | 0 |
| 1980 | 216 | 216 | 0 |
| 1979 | 200 | 200 | 0 |
| 1978 | 225 | 225 | 0 |
| 1977 | 233 | 233 | 0 |
| 1976 | 327 | 318 | 9 |
| 1975 | 232 | 222 | 10 |
| 1974 | 192 | 192 | 0 |
| 1973 | 175 | 175 | 0 |
| 1972 | 160 | 152 | 8 |
| 1971 | 190 | 190 | 0 |
| 1970 | 151 | 142 | 9 |
| 1969 | 71 | 71 | 0 |
| 1968 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| 1967 | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| 1966 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1965 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1964 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1963 | 38 | 38 | 0 |
| 1962 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1961 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1960 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1959 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1958 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1957 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1956 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1955 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1954 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1953 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1952 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1951 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1950 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1949 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1948 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1944 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1943 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1942 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1937 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1934 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1929 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1926 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1924 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1923 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1921 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1920 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1918 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1917 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1915 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
Top States for Rico (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 18 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| FL | 7 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| IL | 6 | |
| OH | 6 | |
| NC | 5 | |
| AZ | 5 |