Given name & surname
Rick
“a powerful ruler”
In English use, Rick is a diminutive of Richard. One English interpretation is “a powerful ruler.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Rick carries the interpretation “a powerful ruler.” In English use, Rick is a diminutive of Richard. One English interpretation is “a powerful ruler.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Rick is used as a form of Richard.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1919. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Rick is a diminutive of Richard. The history of Richard gives this family its wider story. The Normans brought Richard to England, where it was borne by three kings. Richard I’s nickname Lionheart and his later appearance in Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe helped give the name a lasting place in popular historical storytelling.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Rick through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 81,964
- 81,829 boys · 135 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 5,467 babies
- 2025
- 40
- #3,077 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 40 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,077 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 31.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 5,461 in 1958. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 98,277 as a first name in 2020; 4,009 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rick’s family of names
In English usage, Rick is a diminutive of Richard. In English usage, Rick shares a linguistic root with the Finnish form RIKU. Rick has a related form in Ricky.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Rick has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 22
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 14
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Rick
- Rick AstleyBritish singerborn 1966
- Rick RiordanAmerican author (born 1964)
- Rick PerryAmerican politicianborn 1950
- Rick RubinAmerican music producer (born 1963)
- Rick SantorumAmerican politician and commentator (born 1958)
- Rick RossAmerican rapper and record executiveborn 1976
- Rick MoranisCanadian actor, comedian and musician (born 1953)
- Rick HusbandAmerican astronaut (1957-2003)
- Rick BarryAmerican basketball player (born 1944)
Characters named Rick: Rick Grimes (The Walking Dead), Rick Sanchez (main version (C-137) of Rick in Rick and Morty), Rick Flag (DC Comics characters), Rick Deckard (Blade Runner).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Rick, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nick
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Ron
“song of Joy”
>99% boys
Rusty
“a red-haired woman; a fiery woman” · “one who has red hair or a ruddy complexion”
98% boys · 2% girls
Jim
“he who supplants” · “heel grabber”
>99% boys
Jac
Jac is a masculine given name from English. It is used in Welsh.
>99% boys
Cliff
“from the town near the cliff” · “from the ford near the cliff”
>99% boys
Ted
“a gift from God” · “having heart”
>99% boys
Randy
“lustful”
99% boys · 1% girls