Ricky Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Ricky is an English diminutive of Richard, which traces back to Old High German roots meaning 'brave ruler'. It has evolved through various forms before becoming popular as a standalone name in the 20th century. Ricky conveys traits of friendliness and energy, and it does not have biblical relevance. Notable people with this name include Ricky Martin and Ricky Gervais.
The name Ricky is most popular in Arkansas, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South 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, Ricky has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Ricky' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5436th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 676th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 52nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 108th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 169th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 358th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 667th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4309th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1511th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2758th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4564th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11929th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11981st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ricky' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ricky"
Pronunciation
/ˈrɪki/
Origin
English
Etymology
Ricky is derived as a diminutive form of the name Richard, which itself comes from the Old High German name 'ric' meaning 'power' or 'ruler' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'hardy'.
Meaning
brave ruler
Language Evolution
Richard (Old High German), Ricardus (Latin), Richard (Old French), Ricky (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Ricky gained popularity in the mid-20th century as a standalone name, particularly in the United States, often associated with the rise of the name Richard.
Variants & Derivatives
Rick, Rich, Rico
Modern Popularity & Image
Ricky is often viewed as a friendly and approachable name, commonly associated with a youthful and energetic personality. It remains a popular choice in various cultures.
Famous People
Ricky Martin, Ricky Gervais, Ricky Rubio
Explore More Ricky Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ricky"
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 "Ricky"
"Ricky" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 5436th of 7545 | 23 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 676th of 6773 | 1,546 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 52nd of 7552 | 129,205 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 108th of 10718 | 46,111 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 169th of 16616 | 28,201 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 358th of 24088 | 13,093 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 667th of 23106 | 4,703 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4309th of 9204 | 79 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1511th of 12526 | 897 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2758th of 19264 | 427 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4564th of 27321 | 315 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11929th of 35406 | 119 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11981st of 30306 | 87 |
Regional Popularity of "Ricky" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
30.79% 476th/1546 |
47.43% 738th/1556 |
30.26% 712th/2353 |
24.63% 381st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
2.69% 60th/2227 |
4.44% 108th/2430 |
1.30% 37th/2853 |
2.70% 75th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.78% 111th/2937 |
5.28% 184th/3483 |
2.13% 75th/3518 |
3.68% 149th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.86% 179th/3685 |
4.96% 222nd/4475 |
2.29% 119th/5194 |
3.44% 217th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
8.80% 403rd/4582 |
8.29% 428th/5164 |
4.25% 311th/7313 |
4.80% 358th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.57% 740th/3984 |
20.73% 930th/4487 |
9.01% 615th/6822 |
9.35% 587th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ricky" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
69.78% 1554th/2227 |
69.71% 1694th/2430 |
52.82% 1507th/2853 |
62.67% 1739th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
95.27% 2798th/2937 |
- |
85.42% 3005th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
93.65% 4191st/4475 |
83.13% 4318th/5194 |
71.54% 4519th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
94.65% 6922nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ricky"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ricky" 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.