What Does the Name Richard Mean?
Richard is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning “brave ruler.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Richard |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Meaning | brave ruler |
| Variants | Rich, Rick, Dick, Richie, Ricardo |
| Popularity | Peaked as a US top 10 boys' name in the 1940s-1950s. |
The meaning and origin of Richard
The name Richard means “brave ruler” and has Germanic origins. From the Germanic elements ric 'ruler, power' and hard 'brave, hardy', brought to England by the Normans. It was borne by three English kings, including Richard I 'the Lionheart'.
Variants and related names
Richard is related to several other names you may recognize: Rich, Rick, Dick, Richie, Ricardo. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Richard?
Peaked as a US top 10 boys' name in the 1940s-1950s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Richard mean?+
The name Richard means “brave ruler” and is of Germanic origin.
What is the origin of the name Richard?+
Richard originates from Germanic.
Is Richard a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Richard has trended in the US over time.
Richard by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press