Ricarda
A girl's name of Spanish origin with 738 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name from Spanish
Ricarda is a girl's baby name of Germanic origin, the Spanish and Italian feminine form of Ricardo (Richard), from the Old High German Richardt, meaning 'powerful ruler' — from ric (ruler, power) and hard (brave, strong). The name has medieval royal heritage through Richard I (the Lionheart).
Ricarda carries all the commanding strength of Richard in a distinctly feminine, Romance-language form. It is used in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking communities where feminine forms of masculine names with the -a ending are a natural naming tradition.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Ricarda's final sounds are open, warm — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Ricarda follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Ricarda's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ricarda has 78+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1910.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 26 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 60 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 70 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 84 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 146 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 101 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 74 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 118 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 54 | — |
The Story of Ricarda
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1954, Ricarda is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Ricarda are most likely born between 1944 and 1964.
How rare is Ricarda?
With 738 total births on record, Ricarda remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1910, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 146 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Ricarda by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Ricarda per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(78 years, 1910–2002)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 | #17527 |
| 1996 | 6 | #13088 |
| 1992 | 7 | #11411 |
| 1991 | 7 | #11203 |
| 1990 | 6 | #12539 |
| 1989 | 6 | #11969 |
| 1988 | 5 | #13373 |
| 1987 | 5 | #12755 |
| 1986 | 7 | #9314 |
| 1984 | 7 | #8902 |
| 1983 | 7 | #8746 |
| 1982 | 6 | #10157 |
| 1981 | 9 | #7243 |
| 1980 | 8 | #7962 |
| 1979 | 5 | #11470 |
| 1978 | 5 | #11020 |
| 1977 | 10 | #6223 |
| 1976 | 11 | #5494 |
| 1975 | 6 | #8761 |
| 1974 | 8 | #6715 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ricarda a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ricarda most popular?
How popular is the name Ricarda?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1910–2002