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Rickard

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Rickard

Pronounced RIK-erd /ˈrɪk.ərd/Medium

Meaning: Rickard is a Scandinavian and English dialect form of Richard, from Germanic 'ric' (ruler, power) and 'hard' (brave, strong), hence 'brave ruler'. It also survives as a surname. It appears as a rare given name in American records, partly through Scandinavian-American families.Medium

In 30 seconds: Rickard is a Scandinavian form of Richard, meaning 'brave ruler'. It saw faint use around 1958 (said 'RIK-erd').

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Origin MediumGermanic, Scandinavian

MeaningRickard is a Scandinavian and English dialect form of Richard, from Germanic 'ric' (ruler, power) and 'hard' (brave, strong), hence 'brave ruler'. It also survives as a surname. It appears as a rare given name in American records, partly through Scandinavian-American families.

U.S. rank (1979)#4758 ↗ Rising

1979 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1958

Total births (all-time)≈ 625

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

Rickard is a Scandinavian and dialect form of Richard, from Germanic ric ('ruler') and hard ('brave, strong'). It doubles as a surname and reached American records partly through Scandinavian families.

It was always rare - only a few dozen boys a year around its 1958 high point - and it stayed a minor variant of Richard. It reads as a Nordic-flavored heritage form.

Did you know? Rickard is the everyday Swedish form of Richard, so the name carries the same 'strong ruler' sense in a Nordic spelling.

Overall data confidence 55%

References - Rickard / Richard — Scandinavian form of Richard; Germanic ric+hard 'brave ruler'

Variations

RichardRickertRikard

Nicknames

RickRickie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rickard…

Richard— the standard English form of the name

Rickey— a common pet form of the name

Renard— a similarly popular pick

Reshard— lands in the same popularity range

Raynard— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rickard mean?

Rickard is a Scandinavian and dialect form of Richard, meaning 'brave ruler'.

How do you pronounce Rickard?

It's said RIK-erd /ˈrɪk.ərd/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rickard a boy or girl name?

Rickard is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Rickard?

Rickard has always been rare, a Nordic-flavored form of Richard.