Rick Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rick is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German 'Richard', meaning 'brave power'. It has evolved through various historical forms and is commonly recognized today. The name has no biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 20th century as a diminutive of Richard. It is often viewed as friendly and reliable, with notable bearers including Rick Astley and Rick Riordan.
The name Rick is most popular in Idaho, 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. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rick has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling 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, 'Rick' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3471st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 637th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 118th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 241st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 498th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1193rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2274th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5581st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11362nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22013th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Rick' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rick"
Pronunciation
/rɪk/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
Rick is derived from the Old High German name 'Richard', which means 'brave power'. The name has undergone various adaptations over time.
Meaning
brave power
Language Evolution
Richard (Old High German), Ricard (Old French), Rick (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Rick gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century as a diminutive form of Richard, becoming a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
Richard, Ricky, Rickie
Modern Popularity & Image
Rick is perceived as a strong, approachable name that is often associated with friendliness and reliability.
Famous People
Rick Astley, Rick Moranis, Rick Riordan
Explore More Rick Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rick"
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 "Rick"
"Rick" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3471st of 7545 | 89 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 637th of 6773 | 1,690 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 118th of 7552 | 56,391 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 241st of 10718 | 14,889 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 498th of 16616 | 5,861 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1193rd of 24088 | 2,143 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2274th of 23106 | 729 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5581st of 12526 | 90 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11362nd of 19264 | 33 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22013th of 27321 | 12 |
Regional Popularity of "Rick" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.62% 427th/1546 |
44.28% 689th/1556 |
51.34% 1208th/2353 |
19.65% 304th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.10% 69th/2227 |
7.53% 183rd/2430 |
8.38% 239th/2853 |
2.27% 63rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
5.38% 158th/2937 |
8.73% 304th/3483 |
12.59% 443rd/3518 |
4.70% 190th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
10.72% 395th/3685 |
11.82% 529th/4475 |
13.07% 679th/5194 |
6.24% 394th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
30.21% 1384th/4582 |
26.16% 1351st/5164 |
17.71% 1295th/7313 |
12.80% 955th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
65.92% 2958th/4487 |
31.79% 2169th/6822 |
25.88% 1624th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rick" 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 "Rick"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rick" 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.