Rick - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Rick

Rick is a masculine given name predominantly used in Anglo-American contexts, originally emerging as a diminutive of Richard—it traces back to the Old High German rīhhi, meaning “ruler,” combined with hard, meaning “strong.” Over time it evolved from a hypocoristic form into an independent name. Phonetically, Rick is rendered /rɪk/, following a straightforward consonant-vowel-consonant pattern typical of Modern English. In the United States, it reached its peak popularity in the late 1950s—ranked within the top 100 names—before gradually declining to position 882 in 2024, with 42 recorded births. Analytically, the name’s etymology underscores associations of leadership and resilience, while its concise form offers a less formal alternative to its longer progenitor.