Dick

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Dick

Pronounced DIK /ˈdɪk/High

Meaning: Dick is a centuries-old rhyming short form of Richard (Richard -> Rick -> Dick), from Germanic ric-hard, 'strong, brave ruler.' It carries Richard's kingly meaning; its decline owes much to the word's later slang senses.Medium

In 30 seconds: Dick is an old short form of Richard, 'brave ruler' (said 'DIK'). Once everywhere, now rare for a plain reason.

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Origin MediumGermanic

MeaningDick is a centuries-old rhyming short form of Richard (Richard -> Rick -> Dick), from Germanic ric-hard, 'strong, brave ruler.' It carries Richard's kingly meaning; its decline owes much to the word's later slang senses.

U.S. rank (2005)#11903 ↘ Falling

2005 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1934

Total births (all-time)≈ 29,273

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dick is one of English's oldest nicknames, a rhyming form of Richard, 'brave ruler.' Common for generations, it peaked in 1934 and then declined steadily — the drop hastened, factually, by the vulgar slang meaning the word acquired. Fewer parents chose it with each decade.

A man named Dick at its 1934 peak would be in his early nineties today. The name is a genuine piece of naming history whose everyday use faded for a real and specific reason. Parents who love Richard now almost always choose Rick or Rich instead.

Did you know? Dick came from Richard by way of medieval rhyming nicknames (Rick to Dick); its fall from use through the last century tracks the rise of the word's crude slang sense, which we note plainly.

Overall data confidence 70%

References — Dick — Rhyming short form of Richard; 1934 peak, slang-driven decline

Variations

RichardRichRick

Nicknames

RichieRick

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dick…

Richard— the full parent name Dick shortens

Rick— a like short form of Richard

Ricky— a same-family nickname

Rich— another short form of Richard

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By themevintage short germanic nickname-name brave

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dick mean?

Dick is a traditional short form of Richard, from Germanic ric-hard, 'strong, brave ruler.'

How do you pronounce Dick?

It's said DIK /ˈdɪk/ — one syllable.

Is Dick a boy or girl name?

Dick is used as a boy's name, historically as a short form of Richard.

How popular is Dick?

Dick was common into the early twentieth century and has been rare since, its decline tied to the word's later slang sense.