Names › Boys' names › R › Richard
Richard
Meaning: brave ruler · Origin: Germanic · Gender: usually a boy's name
Origin & history
From Germanic ric ('power, ruler') + hard ('brave'). Richard the Lionheart was King of England.
Famous people named Richard
- Richard the Lionheart
- Richard Feynman (physicist)
Nicknames
Rick, Rich, Dick, Ricky
Variants & related names
Ricardo, Riccardo, Ryszard
Richard name art
A free preview of a printable “Richard” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Richard mean?
Richard means “brave ruler”. It comes from Germanic.
Is Richard a popular name?
Richard is a classic boys' name that has been used for generations in the English-speaking world. For its current rank, see the US Social Security Administration or UK Office for National Statistics baby-name lists.
What are nicknames for Richard?
Rick, Rich, Dick, Ricky.
What are other forms of Richard?
Ricardo, Riccardo, Ryszard.
Similar names
Albert · Frederick · Otis · Charles · Frank · Bruno
More: names starting with R · all boys' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.