Declining since 1995, #4,758 for girls today.
Popularity of Ricki since 1938
Babies named Ricki per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 13 | 0 |
| 1940s | 396 | 166 |
| 1950s | 721 | 1,040 |
| 1960s | 397 | 397 |
| 1970s | 459 | 202 |
| 1980s | 521 | 177 |
| 1990s | 1,077 | 193 |
| 2000s | 402 | 89 |
| 2010s | 294 | 28 |
| 2020s | 162 | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Ricki first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1938 and saw its highest usage in the 1990s, reaching peak rank in 1995. Since then, it has steadily declined, with a rank of 4,758 in 2025. At its peak, it was the top choice for approximately 1 in 57,402 girls. While never extremely common, the name reflects a mid-century trend of turning masculine nicknames into feminine given names. The name has no strong regional concentration in the United States, as evidenced by its empty top states list. Today, Ricki feels like a retro choice, evoking the casual, nickname-as-name style that was especially popular in the 1990s.
Ricki is a feminine variant of the masculine nickname Ricky, itself a diminutive of Richard. Richard derives from Old Germanic elements 'ric' (ruler, power) and 'hard' (brave, hardy), thus 'brave ruler'. While initially a nickname, Ricki gained independent usage as a given name for girls in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States, following a trend of nickname-style names like Vicki and Ricky.
Where Ricki is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rick, Ri
Sibling names for Ricki
Names that share Ricki's style, for a brother or sister.
