Richard is cognate with variants of the name in other European languages, such as the Swedish "Rickard", the Portuguese and Spanish "Ricardo" and the Italian "Riccardo" (see comprehensive variant list below).
It was borne by three kings of England including the 12th-century Richard I the Lionheart, one of the leaders of the Third Crusade. During the late Middle Ages this name was typically among the five most common for English males (with John, William, Robert and Thomas).
The name “Richard” comes from the Germanic “Riccard,” which means “powerful leader.” It’s no coincidence that throughout history, many notable men have borne this name and lived up to its meaning.