Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ricardo
BoySpanish, Portuguese· “brave ruler”
- Meaning
- brave ruler
- Origin
- Spanish, Portuguese
- Pronunciation
- rih-KAHR-doh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #380
- US babies 2025
- 833
- Best rank
- #115 (1992)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Ricardo
Ricardo is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “brave ruler”.
Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard, a Germanic name built from ric, meaning power or ruler, and hard, meaning brave or hardy. Richard came to England with the Normans and was borne by several kings, including Richard the Lionheart. Ricardo has been a staple across Latin America, Spain and Portugal for generations. It combines strength with a warm, rolling sound. Nicknames include Ricky, Rico and Cardo, giving plenty of choices for different ages. The name travels well between English and Spanish.
Other spellings with the same sound: Riccardo.
Popularity over time
Ricardo first appears in US Social Security records in 1888. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 116 different years, starting in 1891. Its best national rank was #115 in 1992, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 3,044 were named Ricardo. In 2025, 833 babies were named Ricardo, and it ranked #380 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #774 in 1920, #265 in 1950, #117 in 1980, #134 in 2000, #195 in 2010, and #380 in 2025. Of the 146,456 US boys named Ricardo since records began, 20% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 27,190 babies. Since 2010, 19,337 more have been named Ricardo.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Devon, Dawson, Grant, Brendan, and Trey.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ricardo ranked highest in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #159 | 13 |
| Texas | #167 | 222 |
| Arizona | #202 | 42 |
| California | #219 | 170 |
| Nevada | #263 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Ricardo is usually pronounced rih-KAHR-doh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with R and ends in “-do”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Riccardo.
Middle names for Ricardo
A few middle names that flow with Ricardo: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ricardo
Similar names
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Lists that include Ricardo
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ricardo mean?
Ricardo is a Spanish and Portuguese name that means “brave ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Ricardo?
Ricardo has Spanish, Portuguese, and Germanic roots. Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard, a Germanic name built from ric, meaning power or ruler, and hard, meaning brave or hardy.
Is Ricardo a popular name?
Yes. Ricardo ranked #380 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ricardo a boy or girl name?
Ricardo is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Ricardo?
Ricardo is usually pronounced rih-KAHR-doh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings