Neil vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Neil

Boy #866 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"cloud"

Origin: Old Irish

Irish Scottish English Scandinavian

✓ 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'"}

Neil Rank #866

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #866 for Neil.

Is Neil or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Neil at #866 in the United States.

What do Neil and Richard mean?

Neil means "cloud" (Old Irish origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Neil and Richard boy or girl names?

Neil is primarily a boy name. Richard is primarily a boy name.