Richard

Richard is a Germanic given name composed of the elements ric, meaning power or ruler, and hard, meaning brave or strong, yielding an overall sense of strong ruler or powerful leader. It was introduced to England by the Normans and became firmly established there, borne by three kings of England, most famously Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart, the twelfth-century crusader king. The name spread widely across medieval Europe and remains common in many languages today. Related forms include Ricardo, Ricard, Rikard, Richárd, and the short forms Rick, Rich, and Dick.