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Richard Boy

Popularity: #221 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationRICH-erd / /ˈrɪtʃərd/

Germanic; Old High German

Meaning

Germanic: powerful leader; Old High German: brave ruler

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Richard has its roots in the Old High German name "Ricohard," which is composed of the elements "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power," and "hard," meaning "brave" or "strong." This name was adopted into Old French as "Richard," which then entered the English language following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. The transition from Germanic to French and then to English illustrates the linguistic influences of the time, particularly the impact of Norman culture on the English language and society.

Historically, the name Richard has been borne by several notable figures, including Richard the Lionheart (Richard I of England), who reigned from 1189 to 1199 and is remembered for his role in the Third Crusade. His reputation for bravery and leadership contributed to the name's enduring legacy. Additionally, Richard III, who ruled from 1483 to 1485, is a significant historical figure, often associated with the tumultuous Wars of the Roses. The name has also appeared in various literary works, including Shakespeare's play "Richard III," which further cemented its cultural significance.

The name Richard has been associated with nobility and leadership throughout history, often symbolizing strength and valor. It has been a common name among English royalty and nobility, contributing to its prominence in historical records. Variants of the name, such as "Rick" or "Dick," have emerged over time, with "Dick" historically serving as a diminutive form that was widely used in medieval England. The name's rich historical and cultural associations have allowed it to maintain a significant presence in various contexts throughout the centuries.

Trend Summary

Richard has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the mid-20th century.

Similar Names

RoderickReginaldRicardoRalphRonaldRaymondRufusRiley

Variants

  • Rich
  • Rick
  • Ricky

International Variants

  • Ricardo (Spanish)
  • Rikard (Swedish)
  • Rico (Italian)
  • Ryszard (Polish)

Famous people named Richard

Richard Branson is an entrepreneur best known for founding the Virgin Group, Virgin Atlantic, and Virgin Records.

Richard Gere is an actor best known for Pretty Woman, Chicago, and American Gigolo.

Richard Attenborough is an actor and director best known for Jurassic Park, Gandhi, and A Bridge Too Far.

Richard Dreyfuss is an actor best known for Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and The Goodbye Girl.

Richard Nixon is a U.S. President best known for ending the Vietnam War, opening relations with China, and the Watergate scandal.

Richard Dean Anderson is an actor best known for MacGyver and Stargate SG-1.

Richard Linklater is a filmmaker best known for Boyhood, Dazed and Confused, and the Before trilogy.

Richard Ayoade is a director and actor best known for Submarine, The IT Crowd, and The Double.

Richard Madden is an actor best known for Game of Thrones, Bodyguard, and Cinderella.

Richard Curtis is a screenwriter and director best known for Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually.

Richard III is a historical figure best known as the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Richard O'Brien is a television presenter and actor best known for The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Crystal Maze.

Richard E. Grant is an actor best known for Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.

Richard Kind is an actor best known for Spin City, Mad About You, and Inside Out.

Richard Herring is a comedian and writer best known for his stand-up shows and podcasts.

Richard Ashcroft is a musician best known as the lead singer of The Verve and for the song Bitter Sweet Symphony.

Richard Thompson is a musician best known for his work with Fairport Convention and as a solo artist.

Richard Lewis is a comedian and actor best known for Curb Your Enthusiasm and Anything But Love.

Richard Avedon is a photographer best known for his fashion photography and portraits.

Richard Feynman is a physicist best known for his work in quantum mechanics and particle physics.

Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist best known for The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion.

Richard Wright is a musician best known as a founding member of Pink Floyd and for his work on The Dark Side of the Moon.

Richard Briers is an actor best known for The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles.

Richard Oates is a notable figure in the field of architecture best known for his innovative designs.

Richard J. Roberts is a biochemist best known for his discovery of split genes and for winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Fictional characters named Richard

Richard III is a fictional character from the play Richard III by William Shakespeare. He is the ambitious and ruthless king who seeks power through manipulation and murder.

Richard Castle is a fictional character from the TV series Castle. He is a bestselling mystery novelist who becomes involved in solving crimes alongside a homicide detective.

Richard Cypher is a fictional character from the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. He is the main protagonist who embarks on a quest to defeat dark forces and uncover his true heritage.

Richard 'Rick' Grimes is a fictional character from the comic book series and TV show The Walking Dead. He is the former sheriff's deputy who becomes a leader in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies.

Richard Parker is a fictional character from the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel. He is a Bengal tiger who shares a lifeboat with the protagonist, symbolizing survival and companionship.

Sibling Suggestions

RobertWilliamThomasEdwardJamesCharles

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Richard was first seen in the United States in 1880. Richard has ranked as high as #6 nationally, which occurred in 1946, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Richard has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Richard (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 191
13%
TX 157
11%
FL 105
7%
NY 65
4%
VA 56
4%
OH 51
4%
PA 51
4%
GA 48
3%
NC 45
3%
AZ 45
3%
IL 36
2%
MI 36
2%
MA 34
2%
MD 33
2%
WA 31
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880728
1881641
1882746
1883649
1884749
1885672
1886720
1887622
1888772
1889711
1890743
1891609
1892802
1893732
1894808
1895727
1896834
1897702
1898871
1899744
19001,141
1901784
1902908
1903862
1904957
19051,033
19061,084
19071,235
19081,244
19091,427
19101,654
19112,030
19124,188
19135,107
19146,669
19159,143
191610,134
191710,914
191812,323
191912,441
192015,010
192116,376
192217,537
192318,887
192421,244
192523,269
192625,143
192726,768
192828,794
192929,570
193032,186
193131,823
193231,809
193331,331
193433,167
193533,947
193633,492
193732,975
193834,386
193935,385
194037,425
194139,111
194243,592
194346,338
194445,643
194546,045
194658,871
194758,531
194850,969
194950,947
195051,004
195154,539
195258,353
195358,389
195457,043
195553,564
195652,912
195752,446
195849,999
195947,204
196043,538
196141,140
196239,418
196340,767
196440,100
196536,826
196634,458
196733,583
196832,977
196931,087
197030,440
197126,157
197222,303
197319,943
197418,636
197517,688
197616,753
197717,442
197816,733
197916,713
198016,657
198116,855
198216,720
198315,891
198415,607
198515,328
198615,012
198714,402
198814,145
198914,133
199013,580
199112,555
199211,331
199310,231
19949,516
19958,784
19968,180
19977,242
19986,954
19996,501
20006,354
20015,771
20025,322
20035,054
20044,848
20054,667
20064,469
20074,425
20084,060
20093,612
20103,238
20113,165
20123,028
20132,799
20142,887
20152,687
20162,523
20172,284
20182,137
20191,989
20201,826
20211,782
20221,684
20231,645
20241,539