Ricardo
Boy name · #380 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Ricardo? In official American birth records, Ricardo has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
Ricardo is currently the #380 boy name in the United States — 833 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #277, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,161 boys born in 2025 was named Ricardo.
Babies named Ricardo per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 137-year story
Ricardo first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 3,044 boys were named Ricardo — good for #125 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ricardo against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ricardo in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ricardo is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ricardo is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ricardo is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ricardo is most common in NM (2 per 1,000), AZ (1.3 per 1,000), TX (1.3 per 1,000), NV (1.1 per 1,000), CA (1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ricardo is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ricardo
Statistically, parents drawn to Ricardo tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eduardo, Gerardo, Armando, Fernando, and Roberto.
EduardoGerardoArmandoFernandoRobertoBernardoRolandoAlfredo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ricardo | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 833 | #380 |
| 2024 | 871 | #373 |
| 2023 | 876 | #371 |
| 2022 | 920 | #357 |
| 2021 | 946 | #345 |
| 2020 | 963 | #339 |
| 2019 | 1,018 | #329 |
| 2018 | 1,125 | #305 |
| 2017 | 1,168 | #302 |
| 2016 | 1,297 | #281 |
| 2015 | 1,340 | #277 |
| 2014 | 1,462 | #256 |
| 2013 | 1,430 | #253 |
| 2012 | 1,567 | #226 |
| 2011 | 1,635 | #215 |
| 2010 | 1,886 | #195 |
| 2009 | 2,303 | #170 |
| 2008 | 2,757 | #149 |
| 2007 | 2,779 | #146 |
| 2006 | 2,702 | #152 |
| 2005 | 2,626 | #157 |
| 2004 | 2,781 | #144 |
| 2003 | 2,762 | #148 |
| 2002 | 2,709 | #143 |
| 2001 | 2,853 | #138 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ricardo?
In official American birth records, the name Ricardo first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ricardo a popular boy name?
Ricardo ranked #380 among boys in 2025 with 833 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #277.
When was the name Ricardo most popular?
Ricardo peaked in 1998, when 3,044 American boys received the name (ranked #125 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ricardo?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,161 newborn American boys was named Ricardo. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.