Dick 1

If it weren't for the association with penis, I think this would be a pretty solid name.

The jokes kids will make if you have this name….

Was probably a nice name until ruined by the slang. I can’t imagine the amount of teasing that a child would get with this name, even as a nickname.

Doesn't it bother you that your kid and what I have in my shorts have the same name? For real, I can't even type this name without using asterisks.

Hello. I think this name is very pretty. It’s a formal name for a man, a nice one.

I think it’s beautiful personally.

I feel this name is ruined because of using it for slang words or as a male organ. It's only good as a nickname.

If your kid ain't a d**k...
Why did you name him this?

Just like with Gay, I can see why it is not usable anymore. But I would rather pick something else to prevent bullying to happen in today's society.

Cool name but kids poke fun at this now.

The name Dick has haunted me for the decades I've been on this mortal plane. Several people in my life have been named Dick, and although it is used as a joke, there is NOTHING funny to me about this name. My father was originally planning on naming me Dick, after my mother's grandfather (or great-grandfather, I can never remember), but a tragedy occurred, causing him to name me something else (which I will not share). I also had a pet hamster named Dick, the first of many hamsters in his lineage. He died a torturous death (it involved kitchen appliances), and his "children" (younger me did not understand the concept of adoption, they were not blood-related to him), were subsequently all named Dick. This name harms me in ways you cannot imagine. Good day.

I hope people who named their son Richard didn’t give their kid this nickname….

I love Richard, but seriously, not this, I'm sorry.

Please use Dickson instead.

Seriously, what people have done to this name is stupid. I heard my 4th-grade classmates giggling at it once when they saw the name in a dictionary. Dick is a name for people who like or have the name. All the tabooing and stereotyping names need to stop. This is probably why the name got such a bad rating.

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P.S, love this name!

Just go for Richard, in full form.

Love love and more love. I'm a kid and I am already thinking of naming my son Dixon.
I just think this is a cute nickname. :)

I prefer Dirk, as it sounds harsh yet strong to me, but who cares? This is just a swear word, so I recommend you to avoid using this name for your future son.

I’d avoid naming your son this if I were you. A lot of people would immediately think of the male genitalia. It is a very old-fashioned name and I’ve only seen old men named this. However, in newer times your child ‘Dick’ would have to deal with years of teasing/bullying. If your name is Dick, I’m truly sorry.

Oh, I first thought this name was okay but I read the other comments and now I know why people are saying it's disrespectful!

Ok like really?! Dick is a bad name. If you chose this name for your child... prepare for some bullying. It is slang for penis sooooo... bad idea.

Awesome name! :^)

Very outdated. I can't take it seriously, and neither can a lot of other people.

This name can't be used because it is slang for a penis.

Well... if you wanna name your son that, be prepared for some serious bullying at school...

This name is very stupid.

This is even worse than naming your daughter Titty.

Dick is only okay as a nickname for Richard. Especially now. They could get called a D**khead.

Why is this related to Richard?

Wowww. This nickname is not used anymore, obviously. Otherwise, it's an insult. Gotta admit, Dickie is pretty cute though : )

I named my boy Richard-Gray but my eldest daughter, Karen Rosalie calls him Dick-Gay as she is actually interested in names as well, Dick is a medieval form of Richard and Gay used to be an old name meaning “Happy”.

This is a medieval version of Richard and Richard is my uncle's name but his nickname is Dick and I find it funny.
Now-a-days, never name your kid this unless you're calling them Richard but using this as a nickname.

Honestly, you have to be pretty damn bold, or pretty damn stupid to actually name your son this. (Even more stupid for a girl.) Like this kid is gonna get hella teased.

I know many folks on this site want to get people mad, and oh boy do some of them succeed so well in it. Dick is the name of my son-in-law, he's a very nice man. For anyone thinking that his parents were crazy, he was born in 1934. Imagine being called crazy for naming your child vulgar slang that was used more than 20 years after your kid was born. When Dick comes to mind I don't immediately think of the private part because Dick became slang when I was in my 50's. I like Dick, but I don't recommend it for obvious reasons. Overall Dick is a 7/10.

I honestly feel bad for anybody who has this name. Why would you even consider naming your child this?

It is a crime to name your kid this. It is illegal to have Dick derived from Richard.

I'm from China (sorry for my poor English). English is in China's college entrance examination as a main subject like Chinese and Maths, so we learn English since childhood. In middle school, every week we had a special English class in which an American teacher taught us, while in other English classes a Chinese teacher did. As you know, adolescent boys always think about something strange. We knew the slang meaning of Dick as we often looked up in the dictionary aimlessly to find some strange words. It's really a good way to kill time. So we always laughed once we saw Dick, such as in textbooks, homework or exams, where Dick was used as a common and normal name to make up texts and questions like "Dick has moved into a new flat". When the American teacher first gave us a lesson, asking us to write down our English names, we decided to trick him. Nearly all boys wrote Dick (including me) as their names and so did some girls. Feeling funny, he told us much about Dick, that what Dick meant in slang (He thought we didn't know that) and Richards were often called Dick. Also, we were very sensitive to the syllable "Dick". For example, when we said a word like "dictionary", we would stress the syllable "dic" specially to make fun. More interestingly, in the next term, a new foreign teacher came to teach us. His name was Richard, so we called him Dick. He was so angry with us that he had told us more than once that it was impolite to call people named Richard as Dick, but we didn't listen to him. We just always made fun of him, although now I think the game was so boring and silly. Therefore, I can't imagine if a child is called Dick in the USA, how much he will suffer.

I have a friend Richard and when we were first in middle school I used his name as an excuse to say Dick. I would only use this name sarcastically, though. I would rather call my kid Rich instead of Dick, because Rich is a good thing.

A very bad name never ever name your kid that name.

If a parent uses this name they are just asking for the kid to be bullied.

Please never name a child this.

Here we go again with inappropriate names. This is just No. The fact that this was popular back then makes me want to scream. I hate this so much.

Cool name, ruined by the internet. Name your kid Dick if you really wanna be kinky. Also, how do you get Dick from Richard?

I would never use Dick as a nickname for Richard, unless I’m being a jerk, let alone Dick as a legal first name. I used to think it was a cute name, but since I’ve seen it used as a slang for penis many times, it’s became more and more vulgar. I have sorrow for anyone with Dick as their legal first name. Rick and Ricky are the best nicknames for Richard, not Dick!

Keep in mind that only old Richards go by this nickname. Young Richards never do or would.

C'mon, give your kid some dignity. Naming them Richard is fine, but if you wanna give them a nickname, call them Rich or Richie or Rick. If they wanna call themselves Dick later in life, that's fine, but don't name them Dick during childhood! They'll be mocked relentlessly!

I've never understood why someone would opt for Dick as a nickname for Richard when they could have easily gone with Rich or Rick. I've known 3 men that went by Dick and one that went by Rick and none that chose Rich/Richie.

Yeah, I would avoid this name.

Disgusting name, good for Dick Durbin.

Dick is still a stupid nickname, even without the rude meaning.

I would use it if it didn't have a bad meaning.

I'm sorry for anyone named Richard teased with this name.

"Dick" obviously has multiple negative and vulgar meanings in current slang, like it or not. If you are seriously thinking about choosing this name, I strongly recommend starting with "Richard". There are plenty of other nicknames and pet forms of "Richard" to choose from that are well-known and respectable (as they don't have the vulgar connotations), such as "Richie," "Rick," and "Ricky". Even "Rich" would be better received than "Dick," though there will be jokes about "rich" meaning "affluent".

Your child will be humiliated if you give them this name.

I quite like the name Dick. I know a few people laugh at the name but I can take it seriously thanks to Dick Van Dyke. Although it has vibes of Mr. Cheney and he was a Dick in name and nature.

The juvenile perversion of this fine name is one of many indications of the moral and cultural decay of this nation. One of my uncles is named Dick.

If his name is Richard call him:
Rick
Ricky
Rich
Richie
Ricki

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Please, anything but Dick!

All those dirty minded people need to stop. We are all mature, kind people that will not make fun of people because of their names. We will stand up for them when they are put down. We will-pffffft... sorry, I can't, this is the worst name I have ever heard in my entire life. Whoever made up this nickname are horrible people who mustn't really care a whole lot about their child, if you ask me...

I sincerely hope you're joking.

There'd be nothing wrong with it if it wasn't a slang term for "penis." Shame, as I used to be able to associate this name with characters like Dick Grayson, the original Robin from the Batman franchise.

I just want to know how you get 'Dick' from 'Richard'. Where does the 'D' come from? This has never made sense to me.

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Yeah, this is a terrible name, just because of the connotations. Of course, even without the connotations, it still sounds kind of stupid.

It's a shame Dick is ruined because of the connotation as it really doesn't sound bad.

DICK GRAYSON, YAY! Whenever I think of the name Dick, I think of the happy optimist Dick Grayson. I like the name, and I don't see why some people are negative about it.

Too bad. This name was cool before it became a vulgar slang.

Used to be a great nickname but not really anymore, I would prefer Rick or Rich.

I hate that it's a penis! I just love the sound of the name!

I have zero respect for this name.
Dick is slang for penis and also the phrase, "Don't be a Dick." Which means, "Don't be a jerk"

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I think it's safe to say that not too many people would want to get stuck with this name. Not even older people.

The name Dick has been ruined like the name Gay in this century. Modern day fools seem to be cruel enough to pick nice long-time-ago names and words and turn it into rude words.

Dick is my given name, not Richard. I was named for my mother's family, whose surname is Dick. I don't care what your motivation for choosing this name for your child is, DON'T DO IT! PLEASE! Unless of course you hate your child. I was born in 1961, and according to my mother, the name at that time was not, at least very often, associated with the male reproductive organ. However, by the time I was in second grade it was and from that time on I have lost many friends and been in many altercations as a result. Has it made me tougher, as in the song "Boy named Sue"? No, just angry and alone. I've changed my name since high school, which broke my mother's heart. It also, separated me from my identity as a child, which in many ways broke my own heart. But it had to be done, constant berating and ostracizing from people took too big a toll. To parents-to-be who ask, "What's in a name?", I say, EVERYTHING--for your child's entire life and perhaps beyond.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad name, but if you live in an English speaking country this name isn't a great idea.

Now, I know a lot of people seem to hate this name. But, it’s a very respectable name. You all are being narrow-minded. (no offense intended) Just, forget about the dumb teenage slang. Now, what do you get?

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I get a very respectable name, with a very successful man.

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Now, I’m not say that I would name my son this. The chances of teasing is just too high.

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But, seriously people, you’re being too narrow minded about this name. Just loosen up a tad bit.

My grandpa goes by Rich, my great uncle goes by Rick, and my cousin goes by either Ricky (what the family calls him) or Rick. Only Papi used the nickname Dick. Granted, he was born in the early 1920s (possibly before that), but to my knowledge he was never teased for his name. I don't think men of his generation were. To this day, I haven't met a "Dick" under 60 years old.
I would very much like to use the name Richard in the future, if I ever have a son. However... Dick is not a nickname I would ever use, no matter how much I loved and respected my Papi. I'd most likely call him Ricky.

My last name is Dick so I know what it feels like to grow up with the name. Parents please don't name your kids that. It's tough.

Please, just don't. The additional meaning is a magnet for insults.

I don't like Dick. Not because of the jokes, but because it's too short, nickname-like and because it simply sounds ugly. Like Rick and even Mick.
Good about this name is that it fits an older male better than Rick.

Alright, I'm honestly afraid of being gored by hungry pangolins (or worse, commenters), but Dick has really grown on me! It might have to do something with Batman, because while it's nowhere near my favorites, I'm becoming fond of it. I know, I know- you all can laugh. I'd never inflict this on someone, but it's a decent name in my eyes.

Growing up in the 50s and 60s, I thought Dick was a perfectly acceptable nickname for Richard. I didn't understand the origin, but later read that it follows a "rhyming" pattern "Will/Bill" "Meg/Peg" etc. This website suggests that it had something to do with the Norman French pronunciation, which seems possible.

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I only heard the slang term in my mid- to late teens. I interpreted it as a variation of "dink" (which was common slang in my region to refer to male genitalia). However, given other "name" terminology for body parts, it does seem likely that Dick's relative popularity contributed to its slang use for male genitalia.

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I know of one aging Richard who has switched from Dick to Rich/Rick (yes, he can't seem to make up his mind). Some time ago, I also knew an American born Richard whose German born wife HATED the nickname, but not for the reasons you might think. "Dick" means "fat" auf deutsch, and this Richard was a little on the heavy side. She refused to use his nickname for that reason. I'm not sure if she was ever even aware of the slang American association.

I don't think the vulgar association will be gotten rid of for a long time. I feel bad for anyone with Dick as a legal name, which is far worse than having Dick as a nickname.

My mom who's 82 years old told me that the name Dick became used as another name for a male organ because there were so many men named Dick when the whole slang term started. I think it's a nice name, but unfortunately it's taken on this connotation. Why give your child a name that will brand him with painful experiences? I must say, my mom's male friend is named Dick and I had a difficult time calling him by his name. It was just uncomfortable. Also, this name can create embarrassing situations. Both my mom and my aunt have men named Dick. When my uncle's brother threw a party, we were all asked whether we'd like to say something nice about him. Well, I said, that following my uncles death my aunt was very lonely, but that my uncle's brother had found Dick for her now she's happy. Later, I was very embarrassed as I thought about what I had said.

Oh, come on, people. Get your minds out of the gutter. I, for one, think this is a good name. It was my grandpa's name, and I like it.

You are cruel if you name your child 'Dick'.

Not bad. As long as your last name isn't "Head" ;). Because seriously, who'd want to go through life being called Dick Head?

That name is the same thing as a male organ. When your kid gets older kids at school will make fun of him to the point he is miserable. I feel sorry for anybody named Dick. What an awful name to name your child. That would be just flat out torture to do that to a poor innocent boy. :(

I'd probably use Dick if it didn't mean penis. It's a nice nickname for Richard.

I hope every single one of you who has defiled the name Dick, Richard or Dickey get humiliated and degraded in the worse possible ways. You all say, "how could you do this to a child?" Well, you know what, I ask all of you how could YOU do this to a child? How do you think it feels when people can't respect your name and embarrass you from childhood to adulthood. Also by the way, pick up a PROPER dictionary once in a while or ask a doctor to find out what the correct word for the male organ really is. So maybe this teenage game will end? Anyway, My father's name is Dickie and he has always been a very honest, fair and compassionate person. If you are considering naming your child this name then I think that is great but remember that there will always be these kinds of people in the world like the ones on this comment list. Never let them run over you.

Wow, Cyneburga, that first line can't possibly be serious. All because of our opinion on a name? How ridiculous, calm down.

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While I don't like the name Dick, I've always found Dicky / Dickie to be really cute for a little boy. But of course that'd be for a little boy from back in the '40s or '50s. Not now.

I feel sorry for anyone who has the name Dick.

My Grandpa's name is Richard and goes by Dick. He's been called that since he was a boy. It's not really a big deal or anything and nobody ever laughs or makes comments about it. Most guys called Dick seem to be older so it doesn't really get made fun of like that because most people are mature enough (I hope) to treat a man called Dick with respect.

I'd rather call him Rick if his name was Richard. And I feel sorry for Dick Van Dyke. Dyke means gay woman or something to that extent.

On the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Dick Van Dyke bore the backstage nickname of "Penis Van Lesbian". I suspect that Richard Nixon contributed to the meaning that "Dick" has now. It's sad how an ordinary name picks up an infamous (or famous) meaning and is forever befouled. And let's not even start on the obscene jokes that whirl around the phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry" (which simply means "everyone").

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Go with Rick, instead, as a pet name.

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Oh, and I don't associate William with any filthy terms; I stay with either the full name or "Will"/"Billy", and I simply avoid the nickname "Willy".

Association with the male organ will make things a misery for people named Richard. Same goes for William.

Seeing as you said that as anonymous and I can't message you, how is William associated in the same way as Dick?

Because Willy is short for William.

My cousin's class has a Dick in it. They all know what it means, but only call him Dick when they're angry with him. Otherwise, they use his Chinese name. When my cousin and I somehow get to that topic, we don't say Dick straight out. We use Dick's Chinese name. It's hilarious, but who could do that to a child?