Richard
/ˈrɪtʃ.ərd/noun
A male given name of Germanic origin.
Did you know?Richard comes from a Germanic compound used by warrior elites, combining a word for “power/strength” with one for “ruler,” so the name literally encodes authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rīks
“ruler, kingly, powerful”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*harduz
“hard, strong, brave”
Old High German
OHG
Rihhard
“strong ruler”
Old French
OF
Richard
“Richard, a personal name brought into French usage”
Middle English
English
Richard
“A common male given name in England”