Ricky

As an independently given name, Ricky first appeared on the U.S. male naming charts in 1940. By 1952, the name was a Top 100 in America. His quick ascent up the charts didn’t stop there. In the late 1950s and early 60s, Ricky was a Top 40 favorite. We’re certain that teenage heartthrob Ricky Nelson had some influence on the popularity of his name; both reached their heights of popularity at essentially the same time. In the latter half of the 20th century, Ricky was a name that started to lose its luster. In 1970, the name fell off the Top 100 list and has been going backwards ever since. There was a brief upswing in 2007/2008 following the release of a popular comedy film called “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” (2006). Ricky is a pretty informal name to use as a birth name. We’re more in favor of Richard, but there are no-fuss parents out there who simply like using nicknames as given names. Ricky has a “cute” sensibility as a pet name, but it also harkens back to mid-century America when the name was at the height of its popularity. From that perspective, it’s a bit out of date. Although we have to say: when we think of Ricky it's hard not to picture a fun-loving guy.