The name Richard is of Germanic origin and comes from the elements ric, meaning "power" or "strength", and hard, meaning "strong", "brave", or "hardy". Together, these elements form a name that suggests someone who is powerful, strong, brave, and hardy.
Richard was first used as a given name during the Middle Ages in England. It was borne by several kings of England, including Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart), who ruled from 1189 to 1199, and Richard III, who reigned from 1483 until his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Due to its association with these royal figures, the name Richard became quite popular in England during this time.
The name Richard has also been used throughout history by various notable individuals in fields such as literature, politics, and science. For example, Sir Richard Francis Burton was a renowned explorer and writer who is best known for his translation of "One Thousand and One Nights". Meanwhile, Richard III was famously portrayed by Ian McKellen in Shakespeare's play of the same name.
Today, Richard remains a popular choice for boys' names around the world. It has consistently ranked among the top 1000 most popular baby boy names in the United States since the early 20th century. In France, it is one of the most common male given names, with over 300,000 people sharing this name as of 2019.
In literature and popular culture, Richard has been used as a character name numerous times. Some notable examples include Richard Cory from Edwin Arlington Robinson's poem of the same name, Richard Campbell in John le Carré's spy novel "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", and Richard Harrow on the HBO series "Boardwalk Empire".
The name Richard has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 19th century, the number of babies named Richard ranged from a low of 622 births in 1887 to a high of 1141 births in 1900. However, it was not until the early 20th century that we began to see a significant increase in the popularity of the name.
Between 1900 and 1930, the number of babies named Richard more than tripled, from 1141 births in 1900 to over 32,000 births in 1930. This trend continued throughout the mid-20th century, with a peak of nearly 59,000 births in 1952.
However, since the 1960s, we have seen a steady decline in the popularity of the name Richard. By 1970, the number of babies named Richard had dropped to around 30,000 births per year, and this trend has continued into the 21st century.
Despite the decline in recent years, the name Richard remains relatively popular, with over 1600 births recorded in the United States in 2022. This brings the total number of babies named Richard since records began to over 2.5 million. While the popularity of the name has fluctuated significantly over time, it continues to be a well-loved choice for parents across the country.