Rikki

Rikki is a given name and nickname used in English-speaking regions. It can function as a stand-alone name or as a diminutive form of longer names such as Richard, Derrick, or other names ending with -rik. The spelling Rikki is used for both males and females, though its usage can vary by country and era.

The best-known literary bearer of the name is Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a mongoose featured in Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 collection The Jungle Book. In the story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi defends a household in India from cobras, presenting a tale of bravery and loyalty that has become a staple of children’s literature.

Beyond Kipling, Rikki appears as a given name or character name in various works and media, often as a variant of Ricky, Rikky, or Riki. These spellings blur with other diminutives of Richard or related names and are used across different cultures and contexts. In modern usage, Rikki can be chosen independently of its derivational roots, reflecting trends in naming that favor distinctive or nonstandard spellings.

Overall, Rikki functions as a flexible name with literary association to a famous animal protagonist and with broader usage as a unisex given name and nickname in contemporary naming practices. See also Ricky, Rikky, Riki, and Ricki for related variants.