Meaning & History
Rihards is a masculine Latvian given name, equivalent to the English name Richard. It derives from the Old Germanic elements rih "ruler" and hart "hard, brave", thus meaning "brave ruler". The name has been used in Latvia as a form of Richard, which was introduced to Europe by the Normans and became common in England after the Norman Conquest.
Notable Bearers
Several Latvian sports figures bear the name Rihards. In ice hockey, Rihards Bukarts (born 1995) and Rihards Marenis (born 1993) have represented Latvia internationally. Basketball players Rihards Kuksiks (born 1988) and Rihards Lomažs (born 1996) have also gained recognition. Other notable individuals include Rihards Dubra (born 1964), a composer; Rihards Kotāns (1956–2010), a bobsledder; Rihards Kozlovskis (born 1969), a politician; Rihards Pīks (born 1941), also a politician; Rihards Veide (born 1991), a BMX racer; and Rihards Zariņš (1869–1939), a graphic artist.
Variants
A variant of the name is Ričards, also used in Latvia. Cognates in other languages include Catalan Ricard, Swedish Richard, and English shortenings like Dick, Ric, Rich, and Richie.
- Meaning: brave ruler
- Origin: Germanic, via Richard
- Type: first name
- Usage: Latvia
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Rihards