richard

Richard is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It derives from the elements ric ("ruler, leader") and hard ("brave, hardy"), and it became common in medieval Europe. The name spread widely in English-speaking countries and has many regional forms, such as Ricard, Riccardo, Ricardo, and Rikard.

Nicknames include Rich, Rick, Ricky, and Dick; some cultures also use Dicky or Rickey. Variants in other languages include Ricard in Catalan and Occitan, Riccardo in Italian, Ricardo in Spanish and Portuguese, and Rikard in Scandinavian languages.

Historically, Richard has been borne by royalty and saints, notably Richard I of England (the Lionheart) and Richard III, as well as Saint Richard of Chichester. In modern times, notable individuals include U.S. president Richard Nixon; physicist Richard Feynman; evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins; and comedian Richard Pryor.

In onomastics, the name Richard remains common, with cultural associations of leadership and nobility. It continues to be widely used and is considered a classic, traditional given name in many parts of the world.