Joan vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Joan

Girl #1,238 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"God is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew

English French Spanish Welsh

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Joan Rank #1,238

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #1238 for Joan.

Is Joan or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Joan at #1238 in the United States.

What do Joan and Richard mean?

Joan means "God is gracious" (Hebrew origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Joan and Richard boy or girl names?

Joan is primarily a girl name. Richard is primarily a boy name.