Rikard

Rikard is the Swedish and Norwegian form of Richard, a name of Old High German origin 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. The name was brought to widespread European use following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and became popular across medieval Scandinavia through cultural and royal influence. Notable bearers include Rikard Nordraak, the Norwegian composer best known for writing the melody of the Norwegian national anthem. Closely related forms include Richard in English and German, Riccardo in Italian, and Ricardo in Spanish and Portuguese.