Richard
because that's my name, and I've worn it all my life. In addition, it is a name that was worn with pride by many an English king of centuries past, as well as many an American commoner of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
The name Richard was brought to English by the Normans. Coming from the roots 'ric' meaning "power, rule" (and 'hard' "brave, hardy". It has been in use pretty much straight through the ages. The most common pet forms are: Rich, Rick, Richie, & Ricky. Dick and Dicky were used in former times, as were Hitch & Hick (surviving in the surname forms Hickock and Hitchcock), but those are falling out of favor.
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