How to say it
ri · CAR · do
rɪˈkɑːr.doʊ
Masculine
Ricardo
Brave ruler
What it means
The Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian form of Richard, from the Germanic ric ('ruler') plus hard ('brave, strong').
Ricardo is the Romance-language form of Richard, from the Germanic ric, 'ruler,' and hard, 'brave,' so 'brave ruler' or 'strong leader.' It is a staple across Spain and Latin America, with bearers from actor Ricardo Montalbán to I Love Lucy's bandleader Ricky Ricardo. Ricky and Rico are the warm shorts. Same powerful root as Richard and the Italian Riccardo.
How to spell Ricardo
The standard spelling is Ricardo. Common variants include Richard, Riccardo, Ricard, but Ricardo is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #115 in 1992, currently #380 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Ricky and Rico are the shorts.
- Worth knowing
The Spanish Richard; a staple across Latino communities.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Ricardo Montalbán Mexican-American actor
- Ricky Ricardo the bandleader husband on I Love Lucy
Spelling variants
- Richard
- Riccardo
- Ricard
Names with the same feeling
See Ricardo from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Ricardo mean?
- The Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian form of Richard, from the Germanic ric ('ruler') plus hard ('brave, strong').
- What does Ricardo mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Ricardo means "Brave ruler." Ricardo is the Romance-language form of Richard, from the Germanic ric, 'ruler,' and hard, 'brave,' so 'brave ruler' or 'strong leader.' It is a staple across Spain and Latin America, with bearers from actor Ricardo Montalbán to I Love Lucy's bandleader Ricky Ricardo. Ricky and Rico are the warm shorts. Same powerful root as Richard and the Italian Riccardo.
- How do you pronounce Ricardo?
- Ricardo is pronounced rɪˈkɑːr.doʊ. Say it as ri-CAR-do, with the stress on the "car" syllable.
- How do you spell Ricardo?
- The standard spelling is Ricardo. Common spelling variants include Richard, Riccardo, Ricard.
- Is Ricardo a boy or girl name?
- Ricardo is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Ricardo?
- Ricardo ranked #380 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.