Ricci

Meaning of Ricci

Ricci, employed as a feminine given name, originates in the Italian surname Ricci—itself derived from the medieval epithet riccio, meaning “curly-haired,” and historically applied to individuals distinguished by tightly coiled locks. In its source language the name is articulated as REE-chee (/ˈritʃi/), while in Anglo-American usage it is typically rendered REE-kee (/ˈriki/). Although the surname has achieved broad recognition—most notably through figures such as the American actor Christina Ricci—its adoption as a female personal name in California between 1952 and 1989 has remained sporadic, registering single- to low-double-digit annual occurrences and ranking predominantly between the mid-200s and mid-300s. This statistical rarity underscores Ricci’s status as an uncommon choice within the contemporary American onomastic landscape, even as its etymological roots and cultural associations with artistry and scholarship confer an air of historical depth and understated elegance.