Between 1900 and 2023, more than 84,016 boys born in France received the same male first name, according to statistics from the INSEE First Name File. Today, this same first name only concerns a handful of babies: 36 births in 2023. The contrast is striking, especially for a choice that comes from the kings of England and which literally evokes a powerful governor.
This first name in free fall, it is therefore Richarda men’s classic which is celebrated on April 3. This first name is of Germanic origin, it comes from “rik” and means “powerful governor”. Its composition is based on two elements, ric or rik for the notion of power and hard for the idea of firmness, which constructs a symbolism of a strong, very assertive leader.
Richard, a royal first name worn by a king of England
The link between Richard and royalty first comes from Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. The Royal.uk site, the official organ of the British monarchy, recalls that he reigned over England from 1189 to 1199 and that he remains one of the great medieval figures of the kingdom. This etymology gives the first name “All the presence of a future king!”, with an aura of courage and authority.
Long after the knights, Richard continued to circulate in popular culture. The French actors Richard Anconina, Richard Berry and Richard Bohringer, the singers Richard Anthony and Richard Gotainer, without forgetting the American Richard Gere, have anchored this first name in the collective imagination, between cinema, song and television series.
Popularity of the first name Richard in France: from the golden age to the 36 babies of 2023
In France, records from the INSEE First Name File credit Richard with 84,016 male births between 1900 and 2023. It was in 1969 that Richard recorded his greatest success with 2,561 births. Then the curve slowly declined after this golden age of the 1950s-1970s, until only 36 little boys were recorded in 2023.
INSEE points out that its First Name File lists births, and not people still living, based on civil status declarations from the National Identification Directory of Natural Persons (RNIPP). Since July 2025, this data has been rounded to the nearest multiple of 5, which explains why some sites announce 35 births in 2023. But with the arrival of the 2000s and the rise of social networks offering a wider choice of first names with more original options, Richard gradually fell into disuse.
Should we give the name Richard a chance again today?
For future parents, Richard therefore ticks several boxes at once: a flattering sense of a powerful governor, a solid royal history and extreme rarity in maternity wards. Where Louis, Arthur or George remain very common, Richard becomes an almost confidential choice. It’s a bit of the paradox of the French “royal baby”: the first name of a king who no longer runs the playgrounds.