Ritchie is an English given name, a variant of Richard. It gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in Scotland and Northern England. Ritchie is often considered a more casual and familiar form of Richard, sometimes used as a nickname or diminutive. The name's origins can be traced back to the Germanic elements 'ric' meaning 'power' or 'strength', and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong'. In recent years, Ritchie has seen a resurgence in usage, appearing on many modern birth certificates.
"The name Ritchie experienced fluctuations in popularity over these years, with peaks in the late 1940s and early 1950s."