Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Riccardo
BoyItalian, Germanic· “brave ruler”
- Meaning
- brave ruler
- Origin
- Italian, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- ree-KAHR-doh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #5,794
- US babies 2025
- 16
- Best rank
- #1,356 (1954)
- Peak year
- 1979
Meaning and origin of Riccardo
Riccardo is an Italian and Germanic name that means “brave ruler”.
Riccardo is the Italian form of Richard, from the Germanic ric, ruler or power, and hard, brave or hardy. Richard was carried by kings of England, including Richard the Lionheart, and the Italian form has been common since the Middle Ages. The conductor Riccardo Muti made the name widely known to concert audiences. It is said ree-KAHR-doh, with the double c giving a hard k sound. Rico and Dino are nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Ricardo.
Popularity over time
Riccardo first appears in US Social Security records in 1913. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,356 in 1954, and the most babies received it in 1979, when 37 were named Riccardo. In 2025, 16 babies were named Riccardo, and it ranked #5,794 nationally. That is 60% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,095 in 1950, #1,845 in 1980, #8,045 in 2000, #7,004 in 2010, and #5,794 in 2025. Of the 1,576 US boys named Riccardo since records began, 17% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 258 babies. Since 2010, 210 more have been named Riccardo.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Feliciano, Chauncy, Jerone, Serjio, and Ramond.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Riccardo is usually pronounced ree-KAHR-doh, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with R and ends in “-do”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Ricardo.
Middle names for Riccardo
A few middle names that flow with Riccardo: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Riccardo
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Lists that include Riccardo
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Riccardo mean?
Riccardo is an Italian and Germanic name that means “brave ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Riccardo?
Riccardo has Italian and Germanic roots. Riccardo is the Italian form of Richard, from the Germanic ric, ruler or power, and hard, brave or hardy.
Is Riccardo a popular name?
Not especially. Riccardo ranked #5,794 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Riccardo a boy or girl name?
Riccardo is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Riccardo?
Riccardo is usually pronounced ree-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