Ryszard
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- RIH-shart
- Origin
- Germanic
Ryszard is a boys' name of Germanic origin, meaning “brave ruler”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Ryszard mean?
Germanic: Polish form of Richard, from ric 'ruler' + hard 'brave'
“brave ruler”
Ryszard Kapuscinski (1932-2007) was a celebrated Polish journalist and author.
Is Ryszard a girl's or a boy's name?
Ryszard is a boys' name.
How popular is Ryszard in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2015, with 10 boys.
Half of all the boys named Ryszard in the UK since 1996 were born between 2012 and 2019, the years shaded on the chart below.
Ryszard in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | #5,198 |
| 2023 | 1 | #6,556 |
| 2022 | 7 | #2,922 |
| 2021 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 7 | #2,819 |
| 2019 | 9 | #2,399 |
| 2018 | 10 | #2,234 |
| 2017 | 8 | #2,656 |
| 2016 | 0 | – |
| 2015 | 10 | #2,260 |
| 2014 | 9 | #2,378 |
| 2013 | 1 | #6,198 |
| 2012 | 6 | #3,167 |
| 2011 | 3 | #4,837 |
| 2010 | 5 | #3,478 |
| 2009 | 4 | #3,909 |
| 2008 | 3 | #4,615 |
| 2007 | 1 | #5,736 |
| 2006 | 0 | – |
| 2005 | 0 | – |
| 2004 | 0 | – |
| 2003 | 1 | #4,616 |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 1 | #4,018 |
Nicknames for Ryszard
- Rysiek
Names like Ryszard
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Reggie Rupert Henry Edward Freddie Albert Archie Leonard Hugo Milo Albie Bobby
More Germanic names
Amelia Liam Charlotte William Charlie Emma Ella Harry Millie Matilda Louie Miles Alice Myles Charles Lottie
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Ryszard: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/ryszard, updated 20 October 2026.