Rich

Rich is an English given name functioning both as an independent name and as a short form of Richard, which derives from the Old High German elements ric, meaning power or rule, and hard, meaning brave or strong. The full name Richard was introduced to England by the Normans and became enormously popular throughout the medieval period, borne by three kings of England including the celebrated crusader Richard I. As a standalone name, Rich has been in steady use in English-speaking countries, particularly in the twentieth century. Variant short forms include Rick, Richie, and Dick, while the full form Richard remains the most widespread cognate.