Ricardo
brave ruler (Germanic via Spanish)
Ricardo is a spanish / other boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 28, with 166,211 records. It has 3 syllables.
The May 2021 total includes the name written with JR: 132,616 as Ricardo, and 33,595 as Ricardo Jr.
Origin and meaning
brave ruler (Germanic via Spanish)
Ricardo entered Philippine naming practices during the Spanish colonial era as a standard Hispanic Christian name. It has remained enduringly popular across generations, establishing itself as a classic staple in Filipino onomastics.
Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Germanic name Richard, composed of elements meaning 'ruler/powerful' and 'brave/hardy'.
Name character
In the Philippines
Extremely common across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Standard traditional Filipino nicknames include Carding, Cardo, and Cadio, while more modern or Westernized diminutive forms include Ricky and Ric.
Related forms
- Richard English
- Riccardo Italian
- Ricardo Portuguese
- Richard French
Would your family give Ricardo?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Ricardo for 2026 yet.
Ricardo with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Ricardo
How do I use Ricardo with two Filipino surnames?
Ricardo is the given name. The full name is Ricardo + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Ricardo a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Ricardo is number 28, with 166,211 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.