Richard Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Richard is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Richard?
Richard is spelled R-I-C-H-A-R-D. The name has 7 letters.
Richard at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Richard derives from the Old German elements “ric” meaning “power” or “ruler” and “hard” meaning “brave” or “hardy.”
- Origin
- Richard is associated with Germanic origins, deriving from elements signifying power and bravery.
- Pronunciation
- RI-chard · 2 syllables
Richard Popularity in 2025
Rank#234
Recorded Births1,505
- Boys usage fell 1 place to #234 and recorded 39 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 Richard Mean?
Richard derives from the Old German elements “ric” meaning “power” or “ruler” and “hard” meaning “brave” or “hardy.”
Origin: Richard is associated with Germanic origins, deriving from elements signifying power and bravery.
How Do You Pronounce Richard?
PronunciationRI-chard
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Richard?
- History
- The name Richard has been used historically in various European cultures, appearing in medieval records and royal lineages.
Richard Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2007 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,505 | #234 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,544 | #233 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,645 | #221 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6 | #13,592 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,688 | #219 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,783 | #216 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,828 | #208 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,990 | #197 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,138 | #187 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,286 | #174 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,525 | #160 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,688 | #155 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,888 | #141 |
| 2013 | Boys | 2,800 | #140 |
| 2012 | Girls | 5 | #16,869 |
| 2012 | Boys | 3,029 | #123 |
| 2011 | Boys | 3,165 | #127 |
| 2010 | Girls | 5 | #16,992 |
| 2010 | Boys | 3,238 | #125 |
| 2009 | Girls | 7 | #13,704 |
| 2009 | Boys | 3,612 | #114 |
| 2008 | Girls | 5 | #17,504 |
| 2008 | Boys | 4,060 | #108 |
| 2007 | Girls | 8 | #12,676 |
When Was Richard 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.
1946 · Boys
58,870 recorded births
National rank #5
1947 · Boys
58,532 recorded births
National rank #5
1953 · Boys
58,389 recorded births
National rank #7
1952 · Boys
58,350 recorded births
National rank #7
Where Richard 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 |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #48 | 9 |
| DC | #82 | 10 |
| DE | #101 | 10 |
| AK | #110 | 7 |
| ID | #118 | 21 |
| MT | #149 | 9 |
| CT | #157 | 22 |
| MD | #159 | 37 |