Ricardo Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Ricardo is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Ricardo?
Ricardo is spelled R-I-C-A-R-D-O. The name has 7 letters.
Ricardo at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Ricardo derives from the Germanic elements “ric” meaning power or ruler, and “hard” meaning brave or hardy.
- Origin
- Ricardo is the Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese) form of the name Richard, reflecting its Germanic linguistic roots.
- Pronunciation
- ri-KAR-doh · 3 syllables
Ricardo Popularity in 2025
Rank#380
Recorded Births833
- Boys usage fell 7 places to #380 and recorded 38 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Ricardo Mean?
Ricardo derives from the Germanic elements “ric” meaning power or ruler, and “hard” meaning brave or hardy.
Origin: Ricardo is the Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese) form of the name Richard, reflecting its Germanic linguistic roots.
How Do You Pronounce Ricardo?
Pronunciationri-KAR-doh
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Ricardo?
- History
- Ricardo is used as a given name in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking regions as an adaptation of the Germanic name Richard into Romance languages.
Ricardo Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 833 | #380 |
| 2024 | Boys | 871 | #373 |
| 2023 | Boys | 876 | #371 |
| 2022 | Boys | 920 | #357 |
| 2021 | Boys | 946 | #345 |
| 2020 | Boys | 963 | #339 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,018 | #329 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,125 | #305 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,168 | #302 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,297 | #281 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,340 | #277 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,462 | #256 |
| 2013 | Boys | 1,430 | #253 |
| 2012 | Boys | 1,567 | #226 |
| 2011 | Boys | 1,635 | #215 |
| 2010 | Boys | 1,886 | #195 |
| 2009 | Boys | 2,303 | #170 |
| 2008 | Boys | 2,757 | #149 |
| 2007 | Boys | 2,779 | #146 |
| 2006 | Boys | 2,702 | #152 |
| 2005 | Girls | 6 | #14,502 |
| 2005 | Boys | 2,626 | #157 |
| 2004 | Girls | 8 | #11,624 |
| 2004 | Boys | 2,781 | #144 |
When Was Ricardo Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1998 · Boys
3,044 recorded births
National rank #125
1992 · Boys
3,024 recorded births
National rank #115
1999 · Boys
2,987 recorded births
National rank #126
1994 · Boys
2,974 recorded births
National rank #119
Where Ricardo Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NM | #148 | 13 |
| TX | #166 | 222 |
| AZ | #200 | 42 |
| CA | #218 | 170 |
| NV | #243 | 12 |
| IL | #306 | 35 |
| FL | #321 | 61 |
| WA | #364 | 20 |