How did the name Richard get shortened to Dick?

Answer 1

In medieval times Richard was often changed to Dickon when adressing children or young men. The name Richard means strong king or stern ruler.

Richard is a name of Germanic (Teutonic) origin meaning "strong ruler" (or alternatively hard, powerful, noble, rich, brave, or stern ruler). The etymology of the name is:

"ric" meaning power
"hard" meaning strong or hardy
History attributes the Normans with bringing this name to England where it gained in popularity. Three English kings had this name including Richard I (Richard the Lion-hearted - leader of the Third Crusades in the 12th century), and later kings Richard II and III who were made famous by Shakespeare.

Other Languages, Shortened Forms, and Nicknames


Rhisiart (Welsh masculine form) *
Ricarda (Spanish and German feminine form) *
Ricardo (Spanish and Portuguese masculine form) *
Riccarda (Italian feminine form) *
Riccardo (Italiam masculine form) *
Rich (shortened form) *
Richardine (English feminine form) *
Richelle (feminine form) *
Richendra (English elaborate feminine form) *
Richie (pet form) *
Rick (shortened form) *
Rickie (pet form) *
Ricky (pet form) *
Rico (shorted Spanish or Italian form) *
Rihard (Slovene form) *
Rihards (Latvian form) *
Rik (shortened form) *
Rikard (Scandinavian, Finnish, and Hungarian form) *
Rikhard (Finnish form) *
Rikki (Finnish feminine form) *
Riku (shortened Finnish form) *
Risteard (Irish/Gaelic masculine form) *
Ritchie (variant of Richie) *
Others: Dick, Dickie, Dicky, Ricard, Richart, Rickard, Rickena, Ricker, Rickerd, Rickert, Rickesha, Rikkard, Rikkert, Rikward, Riocard, Rocco
Last Names based on Richard

Crichard
Crichett
Prichard
Pritchard
Richards
Richardson
Richman
Richmon
Richmond
Ricker
Rickman
Rickward
Ricman
Circular Meanings

As seen in the american underworld dictionary writeup above, Richard can mean policeman. This is believed to have come from the phrase private dick (e.g., Dick Tracy), a term meaning private detective. Since Dick is a nickname for Richard, this term has gone from "Richard" (the name) to "Dick" (the nickname) to "private dick" (in another form) back to "Richard" (new meaning) simply from common use.

It should be noted that in the military, lower ranking (male) individuals are sometimes referred to as swinging richards which is another circular reference to a different meaning of the word "dick". Swinging Richards is also a common name for gay bars.

Richard is also said to mean turd in Cockney rhyming slang where Richard = Richard the Third = Richard the Turd, as in "That's guy's is a complete Richard."

Answer 2

A lord who had a cold was trying to say Rick and Rob, but it came out as Dick and Bob. The peasants did not dare contradict him, so these short forms for Richard and Robert came about.

Answer 3

in all possibility for the comparable reason Jack is used for John, and Jim for James, and bill for William. that's even worse with Spanish names: p.c. for Francisco, Meme for Miguel or Manuel, and on and on. Sorry i've got not got a greater useful answer although that's some thing to think of approximately.

Answer 4

have you met Richard? hahaha,, Richard is still Richard, Dick is a complete different name. (slang) How does James, become Jim or Jimmy or Jimbo? When did Highways become Freeways? obviously someone, somewhere decided Dick was a good short name replacement for Richard (richard,richie,rick...ect) and everyone else said "duh....OK"

Answer 5

I've always wondered that myself (and names like Bill, Bob, etc.), but I believe Dick is a much older variation. Dickon was used in England by the 1400s ("...Dickon, thy master, is bought & sold"--1485).
I've always thought there was something to the rhyming aspect, tho--Will/Bill, Rob/Bob, Meg/Peg (Margaret)