Richelle first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Richelle has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Richelle

A feminine French name derived from the Germanic name Richard, meaning powerful and brave leader.

Popularity of Richelle by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Richelle is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Richelle.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 10
2022 0 15
2021 0 18
2020 0 14
2019 0 12
2018 0 20
2017 0 25
2016 0 21
2015 0 25
2014 0 22
2013 0 34
2012 0 43
2011 0 34
2010 0 53
2009 0 68
2008 0 59
2007 0 59
2006 0 57
2005 0 50
2004 0 63
2003 0 66
2002 0 77
2001 0 61
2000 0 65
1999 0 86
1998 0 85
1997 0 88
1996 0 134
1995 0 128
1994 0 151
1993 0 180
1992 0 160
1991 0 218
1990 0 214
1989 0 241
1988 0 216
1987 0 214
1986 0 201
1985 0 187
1984 0 152
1983 0 184
1982 0 164
1981 0 195
1980 0 187
1979 0 208
1978 0 182
1977 0 156
1976 0 167
1975 0 187
1974 0 201

The history of the first name Richelle

The name Richelle is a French feminine form of the male name Richard, which is derived from the Germanic name Rikharthu. Rikharthu is composed of the elements ric, meaning "powerful" or "ruler," and harthu, meaning "brave" or "hardy." The name Richard gained popularity in France during the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century and eventually spread throughout Europe.

Richelle emerged as a distinct feminine form of Richard in the 13th century. It was initially used in French-speaking regions of Europe, particularly in France and parts of Belgium. The earliest recorded instances of the name Richelle can be found in French historical documents and records from this period.

One of the earliest known references to the name Richelle is in the 13th-century French epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose," written by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. In the poem, a character named Richelle is mentioned, though details about her are scarce.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Richelle. One of the earliest was Richelle de Montbard (c. 1210-1270), a French noblewoman who was a prominent figure in the court of King Louis IX of France. Another early bearer of the name was Richelle de Beauvais (c. 1250-1320), a French poet and writer who composed religious works and poetry in the vernacular language.

In the 16th century, Richelle de Charolais (1501-1565) was a prominent figure in the court of the Dukes of Burgundy. She served as a lady-in-waiting to Margaret of Austria and was known for her skills in embroidery and needlework.

During the 17th century, Richelle de Montespan (1640-1707) was a French noblewoman and the most famous mistress of King Louis XIV of France. She was influential in court politics and was known for her intelligence and wit.

In more recent times, Richelle Carey (1947-present) is an American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the pop group The Mamas & the Papas.

While the name Richelle has its roots in French language and culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its historical origins and early usage can be traced back to the medieval period in French-speaking regions of Europe.

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 Richelle was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Richelle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/richelle-meaning-and-history/.

"Richelle first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/richelle-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Richelle first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/richelle-meaning-and-history/.

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