- Meaning
- Brave ruler
- Origin
- Germanic
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- Familiar (US top 1000)
- Style
- Classic
- Used in
- English-speaking countries
Nicknames for Richard
What friends, grandparents and the playground will call them, depending on where they grow up.
- English
- Rich, Rick, Ricky, Dick
What people expect from a Richard
Richard mixes soft and sharp sounds, so people tend to read it as steady and balanced.
The meaning is about courage and leadership. A name can't give a child courage, but it's a nice thing to explain to them one day.
A good fit if you hope for: a leader, an athlete, a rebel.
Names set expectations, not personalities. What the research says.
Richard: name scorecard
Save your future kid some trouble: give them a name they can live and grow with.
Great choice
Richard · nickname: Rick
- International readabilityReads well across languages, "ch" (k, ch or sh depending on the country).
- Easy to say and spellSays itself: 2 syllables, spelt how it sounds.
- Not too common, not too strangeThe sweet spot: familiar to everyone, but rarely a duplicate in the class.
- Playground-proofNo obvious rude words or rhymes. Kids are creative, though.
- Won't get you sued (or refused)Nothing a registrar would object to in most countries.
- A meaning to be proud ofMeans "Brave ruler".
Names with a similar meaning
More Germanic names
HenryWilliamCharlesEverettMiloEmmettCharlieBernardoFernandoBruno
Identical CVs with names like Emily and Greg got about 50% more interview calls than the same CVs with Lakisha and Jamal.
Bertrand & Mullainathan (2004)Questions about Richard
What does the name Richard mean?
Richard is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "Brave ruler".
Is Richard a boy or girl name?
Richard is usually a boy's name.
How popular is the name Richard?
Richard is familiar in the US, without being common. It is used in English-speaking countries.
What are nicknames for Richard?
Common nicknames for Richard are Rich, Rick, Ricky and Dick.
Fun, but true. Name meanings come from common etymologies, which sometimes disagree. Height and weight paths are estimates from population growth data and published studies, not a medical assessment. If you're worried about your child's growth, talk to your paediatrician. Full disclaimer