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At a Glance: Name: Richard – Meaning: a Germanic compound combining elements for 'ruler/power' and 'hardy, brave, strong' — traditionally rendered 'brave/strong ruler' – Origin: Germanic – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: RICH-urd
Richard is a Germanic name built from elements meaning 'ruler' and 'hardy, brave, strong,' traditionally rendered 'brave, strong ruler.' It's pronounced RICH-urd (IPA /ˈrɪtʃərd/), and it carries a timeless, classic, vintage feel with Social Security records for boys stretching back to 1880. If you're researching it for a son, you're looking at a name with a clear, sturdy meaning and a long documented history in the U.S.
Meaning & Origin of Richard
Meaning: A germanic compound combining elements for 'ruler/power' and 'hardy, brave, strong' — traditionally rendered 'brave/strong ruler'.
Origin: Germanic.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Richard
Phonetic: RICH-urd IPA: /ˈrɪtʃərd/
Popularity of Richard
Richard hit its high point at #5 in 1930, with 32,186 boys given the name that year, and has settled to #232 in 2024 with 1,539 boys — still in use today, just well off its early-20th-century peak.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Richard Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Richard, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Richard mean?
A germanic compound combining elements for ‘ruler/power’ and ‘hardy, brave, strong’ — traditionally rendered ‘brave/strong ruler’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Richard)
How do you pronounce Richard?
Richard is pronounced RICH-urd (IPA: /ˈrɪtʃərd/).
Is Richard a popular name right now?
Richard peaked at #5 in 1930 and is ranked #232 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Richard? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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