Richard

The male first name Richard means 'the strong ruler', 'the powerful', or 'the mightily strong' - it can also be interpreted as 'the rich and strong'. It originally derives from the Germanic name Rikaharduz.

What does the name Richard mean?

The male first name Richard means 'the strong ruler', 'the powerful', or 'the mightily strong' - it can also be interpreted as 'the rich and strong'. It originally derives from the Germanic name Rikaharduz. The name is composed of the Old High German words rīhhi meaning 'rich', 'powerful' and harti which can be translated as 'strong', 'hard', 'sturdy', 'firm', 'brave', or 'determined'. Richard was originally introduced in England by the Normans and has played an important role in English naming since that time. Furthermore, the name Richard has established itself in all variations throughout Europe and has remained in use to this day. Particularly in the Middle Ages, it was given to many famous personalities and nobles, such as the English King Richard the Lionheart. In the 19th century, Richard became known to the general public through the performance of Shakespeare's royal dramas and became a popular name for boys. The Hungarian spelling is Richárd. Additionally, there are numerous surnames that have used the name Richard. The Spanish and Portuguese variation is Ricardo, and the Italian form is Riccardo. Other interpretations of the meaning composition include: 'rich in hardness', 'powerful ruler', 'strong ruler'. Other variants include Reichard, Richardt, Riccard, and Ricard (French), Rickard and Rikard (Scandinavian), Righard, Rickert, Ridsert (Frisian), Richardo, Richart, Richerd, Ryszard (Polish), Riocard, Ritchard, Ritcherd, Ritchyrd, and Ritshard.

How do you pronounce Richard?

Sound & pronunciation of Richard: The name Richard is two to three syllables and is powerfully structured. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Ri-chard' [ˈʁɪçaʁt], combining a short, bright 'i' with a distinctive second syllable. The fricative sound 'ch' and the firm ending give the name character. Richard appears strong and tradition-conscious - determined, clear, and present.

When is the name day of Richard?

The name day of Richard is celebrated on February 7 in honor of Richard of Wessex and on April 3 in honor of Richard of Chichester.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Richard ranked among the extended top group of boys' names in the late 19th century. Between 1880 and 1903, it mostly fluctuated between the top 15 and top 30. It was particularly strong in 1903, reaching 14th place. It remained consistently within the top 25 to top 35 during the 1910s, making it an established, popular classic. In the 1920s and 1930s, the name predominantly ranged between the top 30 and top 60. In 1923, it achieved a particularly strong position at 33rd place.

Nicknames & pet names

Ardy / Chard / Dick / Hardy / Hartl / Ichy / Mörtel / Ricci / Rich / Richardle / Richarte / Richert / Richi / Richie / Richie Rich / Richman / Richut / Richy / Rick / Ricki / Rico / Rikki / Rischi / Ritch / Ritschi / Rüchard

Similar first names

Famous people

• Jack Richard Salamanca (American writer)
• King Richard the Lionheart (character from (the anime) Robin Hood)
• Richard Armitage (English actor)
• Richard Ashcroft (English musician)
• Richard Banhidi (Hungarian badminton player)
• Richard Blackmore (guitarist)
• Richard Burton (British actor *1925 – 1984)
• Richard Camacho (singer)
• Richard Chamberlain (actor from the USA)
• Richard Christoph Stringini (singer in Us5)
• Richard Csepregi (Hungarian footballer)
• Richard Czar (Hungarian footballer)
• Richard Dawson (British actor and television presenter)
• Richard Dean Anderson (American actor and producer)
• Richard Dedekind (German mathematician)
• Richard Dreyfuss (actor)
• Richard Edgar Castle (character from the American series 'Castle')
• Richard Finch (golfer)
• Richard Freitag (ski jumper)
• Richard Georg Strauss (composer)