Richard vs Ray

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 #4,924 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"beam of light"

Origin: Old French

English American French

✓ All Clear

Richard Rank #232

Ray Rank #4,924

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #4924 for Ray.

Is Richard or Ray more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Ray at #4924 in the United States.

What do Richard and Ray mean?

Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin). Ray means "beam of light" (Old French origin).

Are Richard and Ray boy or girl names?

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