Richard vs Ethel

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Richard

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'"}

Girl #4,921 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"noble"

Origin: Old English 'æthel'

English American British

✓ All Clear

Richard Rank #232

Ethel Rank #4,921

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #4921 for Ethel.

Is Richard or Ethel more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Ethel at #4921 in the United States.

What do Richard and Ethel mean?

Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin). Ethel means "noble" (Old English 'æthel' origin).

Are Richard and Ethel boy or girl names?

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