Rich Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rich has its roots in Old High German, meaning 'wealthy' or 'powerful'. The name has evolved through various historical forms and has been used since the Middle Ages, often reflecting nobility. It has no biblical relevance, but it carries traits of strength and leadership. Variants include Richard and Rick, and it is viewed favorably in modern culture.
The name Rich is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rich has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Rich' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2857th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2058th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 697th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1054th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3275th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4759th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4052nd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rich' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rich"
Pronunciation
/rɪtʃ/
Origin
Old High German
Etymology
The name Rich is derived from the Old High German word 'ric', meaning 'power' or 'ruler'. It was often used as a prefix in names to denote nobility or high status.
Meaning
wealthy, powerful
Language Evolution
Old High German: Ricco, Middle High German: Riche, Early Modern English: Rich
Historical Usage
The name Rich gained popularity in the Middle Ages as a short form of names that included the element 'ric', such as Richard. It has remained a common name in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Richard, Rick, Ricky
Modern Popularity & Image
Rich is often associated with affluence and success. It is perceived positively, evoking traits of strength and leadership.
Famous People
Richie McCaw, Rich Gannon, Rich Little
Explore More Rich Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rich"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rich"
"Rich" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2857th of 7545 | 134 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2058th of 6773 | 235 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 697th of 7552 | 2,103 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1054th of 10718 | 943 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3275th of 16616 | 271 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4759th of 24088 | 281 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4052nd of 23106 | 310 |
Regional Popularity of "Rich" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
70.70% 1093rd/1546 |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- |
47.96% 742nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
22.72% 506th/2227 |
23.05% 560th/2430 |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
18.20% 505th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
25.30% 743rd/2937 |
32.30% 1125th/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
20.57% 832nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
35.62% 2250th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
37.52% 2800th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
50.26% 3429th/6822 |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rich" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rich"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rich" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.