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

Popularity of Ricky by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ricky is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Ricky being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 269 male babies and 7 female babies born with the name Ricky.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby girls were named Ricky in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ricky

The name Ricky is a diminutive form of the name Richard, which has its origins in the Germanic languages. The name Richard is derived from the elements "ric" meaning power or rule, and "hard" meaning brave or hardy. It was popular among the Frankish nobility during the medieval period.

In the 8th century, the name was recorded in the form "Ricardus" in the Codex Diplomaticus. It gained widespread popularity after Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart, became a legendary figure during the Crusades in the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ricky was Ricky Stratton, an English clergyman who lived in the 15th century. He was the Dean of Windsor from 1467 to 1480.

In the 16th century, Ricky Tarleton was an English actor and comedian who performed in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his improvisational skills and comedic talents.

During the 18th century, Ricky Gough was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy. He was involved in several battles during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

In the 19th century, Ricky Atchison was an Australian cricketer who played for the New South Wales colonial team. He was a right-handed batsman and a skilled wicket-keeper.

Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in 1940, was an American singer, actor, and musician. He gained fame as a teenage idol and was part of the popular family television series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Ricky Nelson's hit songs include "Poor Little Fool" and "Travelin' Man."

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

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

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