Ricquel
A masculine name of French origin, a variation of the name Richard meaning "brave ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the first name Ricquel. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ricquel today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ricquel births was 2000 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ricquel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
128
~ 1 in 2,677,768 Americans
Peak year
2000
14 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2006 SSA rank
#19,414
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Ricquel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ricquel from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 66 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Ricquel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ricquel by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ricquel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ricquel
The name Ricquel is an intriguing one, with a rich history that spans several centuries and cultures. Its origins can be traced back to the Old French language and the Latin word "requies," which means "rest" or "repose." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals who were perceived as calm, tranquil, or serene in nature.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ricquel gained popularity across various regions of Europe, particularly in areas where Old French and its derivatives were spoken. It was often used as a masculine name, although there are records of it being given to women as well. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in a 13th-century chronicle from the region of Normandy, where a nobleman named Ricquel de Montfort is mentioned.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Ricquell, Ricquele, and Ricquelle. In the 15th century, a renowned Italian scholar and humanist, Ricquel Bracciolini, made significant contributions to the study of classical literature and philosophy. His works were widely read and influential during the Renaissance period.
In the 16th century, the name Ricquel found its way to the British Isles, where it was adopted by several notable figures. One such individual was Ricquel Fitzwilliam, a courtier and member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a prominent role in the political and cultural affairs of the time.
As the centuries passed, the name Ricquel continued to be used, albeit less frequently. In the 19th century, a French novelist and playwright, Ricquel Duval, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of love, betrayal, and societal norms. His plays were widely performed in Parisian theaters and contributed to the cultural landscape of the era.
Another individual of note who bore the name Ricquel was a British explorer and naturalist named Ricquel Stenhouse. Born in 1832, he embarked on several expeditions to unexplored regions of Africa, documenting the flora and fauna he encountered. His detailed records and specimens made significant contributions to the field of natural history.
While the name Ricquel may not be as widely used today as it once was, its rich history and diverse cultural influences make it a unique and intriguing choice. From its roots in Old French and Latin to its appearance in various historical records and the lives of notable individuals, the name Ricquel has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of human civilization.
People
Ricquel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ricquel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ricquel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ricquel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 128 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ricquel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,677,768 US residents.
Is Ricquel a common name?
We classify Ricquel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 68.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 134 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ricquel most popular?
The single biggest year for Ricquel was 2000, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ricquel is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ricquel a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ricquel in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.