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 enormously popular throughout medieval Europe, borne by three kings of England, most famously Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart, who reigned in the twelfth century. The name spread across much of western and northern Europe and remains in common use today in English, French, German, and Scandinavian traditions. Related forms include the Hungarian Richárd, along with short forms and diminutives such as Rich, Rick, Ricky, and Dick.