Dick
Meaning: Its source is ric hard, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Powerful leader."
Origin: "ric hard."
Languages: This boy's name is used in English.
Nickname For: Richard
Non-English Forms: Dik
Popularity: The name Dick ranked 721st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.
Narrative: Those who believe that your name is your fate should consider the diverse reputations of the three English kings named Richard.
First was Richard Lionheart, the very image of a chivalrous knight -- brave in battle, devout in religion, a light to his people.
Next was the forlorn Richard II. Mainly interested in his circle of friends and the finer things in life, he lost his crown because of his perceived weaknesses.
Finally, deserved or not, Richard III earned a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty. He stands accused of murdering numerous rivals, including two young princes, until finally stopped at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
And what part of U.S. President Richard Nixon's fate did he owe to his name -- his landslide election, or his resignation?
Arts and Music
- Dick Halligan
- Performer with Blood, Sweat, and Tears at Woodstock (see list of Performers at Woodstock)
- Dick Moores (born 1909, died 1986)
American cartoonist.
- Gasoline Alley (see list of Cartoonists)
Science and Philosophy
- Francis Richard ''Dick'' Scobee
American astronaut.
- Astronaut on Challenger (1984), killed on Challenger (1986) (see list of Spaceflight Veterans)
- Challenger astronaut killed January 28, 1986 (see list of Names on the Space Mirror Memorial)
Sports
- Dick Allen
Baseball player.
- 1972 American League Most Valuable Player (see list of American League Most Valuable Players)
- Dick Butkus (born 1942)
American football player.
- Elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1979 (see list of Professional Football Hall of Fame)
- Dick Degener
American athlete.
- 1936 Olympic gold medal winner for Springboard Diving (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Springboard Diving)
- Dick Durrance
Skier.
- Elected to the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1982 (see list of Members of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame)
- Dick Evans
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Dick Groat
Baseball player.
- 1960 National League Most Valuable Player (see list of National League Most Valuable Players)
- 1960 National League Batting Champion (see list of National League Batting Champions)
- Dick Hoover
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Dick Kazmaier
American football player.
- 1951 Heisman Memorial Trophy winner (see list of Heisman Trophy Winners)
- 1951 Associated Press Athlete of the Year (see list of Associated Press Athletes of the Year)
- Dick ''Night Train'' Lane
- Elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1974 (see list of Professional Football Hall of Fame)
- Dick Mann
Motorcycle driver.
- Member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame for Motorcycles (see list of Members of the Motorsports Hall of Fame)
- Dick Mayer
- 1957 U.S. Open golf tournament winner (see list of U.S. Open Golf Champions)
- Dick McGuire
American basketball player.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993 (see list of Basketball Hall of Fame)
- Dick Modzelewski
Football player.
- 1952 Outland Trophy winner (see list of Outland Trophy Winners)
- Dick Ritger
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Dick Savitt
American tennis player.
- 1951 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
- Dick Tiger (born 1929, died 1971)
Nigerian middleweight boxer.
- Member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame (see list of Modern inductees)
- Dick Weber
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
Stage and Screen
- Dick Christie
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Tony Roberts (see list of Characters in the film Play It Again, Sam)
- Dick Clark (born 1929)
American actor and producer.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Van Dyke (born 1925)
American actor and comedian.
- On Hollywood''s Footprints of Fame (see list of Celebrities Honored by Mann's Chinese Theater)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- A cast member on ''''The Carol Burnett Show'''' in 1977 (see list of The Carol Burnett Show)
- Portrayed Rob Petrie (see list of Actors on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'')
- Dick Elliott (born 1886, died 1961)
American actor.
- Portrayed Mayor Pike (see list of Actors on ''The Andy Griffith Show'')
- Dick Enberg
American sportscaster.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Foran (born 1910, died 1979)
American actor.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Haymes (born 1917, died 1980)
American singer and radio-show host.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (see list of Radio Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Jones (born 1927)
American actor.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Lane
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Lobel
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Roy Brocksmith (see list of Characters in the film Stardust Memories)
- Dick Van Patten (born 1928)
American actor.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Portrayed Tom Bradford (see list of Actors on ''Eight is Enough'')
- Dick Powell (born 1904, died 1963)
American actor.
- On Hollywood''s Footprints of Fame (see list of Celebrities Honored by Mann's Chinese Theater)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (see list of Radio Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick Grayson, aka Robin
Fictional character.
- From ''''Batman--The Animated Series'''' (see list of Cartoon characters)
- Dick Sargent (born 1933, died 1994)
American actor.
- Portrayed Darren Stephens from 1969-72 (see list of Actors on ''Bewitched'')
- Dick Whittinghill
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio (see list of Radio Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Dick York (born 1928, died 1992)
American actor.
- Portrayed Darren Stephens from 1964-69 (see list of Actors on ''Bewitched'')
The Literary World
- Dick Deitz
Fictional character.
- A colonel from Atlanta Plague Centre in Stephen King''s novel The Stand (see list of Characters in The Stand)
- Dick
- A vocal participant in Cade''s Rebellion as portrayed in Henry VI, Pt.II (see list of Shakespearean Characters)
- Dick Ellis
Fictional character.
- A veterinarian in Stephen King''s novel The Stand (see list of Characters in The Stand)
- Dick Hallorann
Fictional character.
- An Air Force mess cook in Stephen King''s novel It (see list of Characters in It)
Associations:
In German, dick means thick and fat.
''Dick'' is a slang term for a detective.
A British term for a detachable shirt front is ''dickey.''
''Uncle Dick'' is British rhyming slang for sick.
