Louis vs Richard
Louis and Richardcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Louis was ranked #49 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Louis was ranked #83 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Louis was ranked #98 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Louis was ranked #115 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Louis was ranked #142 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Louis was ranked #185 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Louis and Richard over time
Louis and Richard appear together in 4 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Louis in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Louis moved ahead of Richard in Northern Ireland · Boys — #116 and #109 the year before became #100 and #137.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Louis and Richard changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #115 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Louis and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #49 and #431.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #61 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #49 and #431.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Louis held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Richard in 42.
Highest recorded here: Louis #64 in 2018, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 2011: Louis moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #128 and #122; by 2011 that had become #132 and #137.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louis #115, Richard #232.
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1946–2023
Louis held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Richard in 25.
Highest recorded here: Louis #185 in 2023, Richard #82 in 1973.
The order changed in 2012: Louis moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #409 and #305; by 2012 that had become #314 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Louis #185, Richard #481.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Louis held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Louis #38 in 2004, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louis #49, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Louis held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Richard in 5.
Highest recorded here: Louis #84 in 2004, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order changed in 2003: Louis moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #116 and #109; by 2003 that had become #100 and #137.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Louis #142, Richard #311.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Louis | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #49 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Louis does not have one recorded yet.
- Louis has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Richard.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Louis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Louis
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #334 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in England and Wales, in 2004 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys