Find out how popular the first name Dick has been for the last 32 years (from 1974 to 2005) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Dick by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Dick is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2005, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Dick.

The history of the first name Dick

The name Dick is a diminutive form of the masculine given name Richard, which is derived from the Germanic words "ric" (ruler, leader, king) and "hart" (hardy, brave, strong). The name Richard was introduced to Britain by the Normans after their conquest of England in 1066.

In its earliest recorded use, the name Dick appeared as a diminutive of Richard in medieval England during the 13th century. It was a common nickname or pet form of Richard, similar to other diminutives like Rich, Rick, and Richie.

Dick gained popularity as a standalone name in its own right in the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance period. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the given name Dick was Dick Whittington (c. 1354–1423), a famous English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London four times.

Another notable historical figure named Dick was Dick Turpin (1705–1739), an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticized in popular culture. Despite his criminal activities, Turpin became a folk hero and the subject of numerous stories and ballads.

In the 16th century, the name Dick was associated with the Protestant Reformation. Dick Saunders (c. 1530–1577) was an English Puritan minister and author who advocated for religious reforms and wrote several influential works.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Dick Hazelrig (1607–1690) was a prominent Parliamentarian and a staunch supporter of Oliver Cromwell's cause. He played a significant role in the conflict and later served as a member of Cromwell's Privy Council.

In the 18th century, Dick Tarleton (1743–1833) was a British officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He gained notoriety for his daring cavalry raids and became known as the "Green Dragoon" for his distinctive military uniform.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the given name Dick. The name has a rich heritage and has been used across various cultures and time periods, often as a diminutive form of Richard or as an independent name in its own right.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dick was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dick, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!