It was borne by three kings of England including the 12th-century Richard I the Lionheart, one of the leaders of the Third Crusade. During the late Middle Ages this name was typically among the five most common for English males (with John, William, Robert and Thomas).
Richard has English, French, German, and Dutch roots. It has a rich history as the name of three Kings of England, including Richard I the Lionheart who lead the Third Crusade in the 12th Century.
Richard is also a popular name for fictional characters. For example, Richard Gilmore is Lorelai’s father and Rory’s grandfather in the popular teen show Gilmore Girls.