Richardine is a unique and distinctive given name, derived from the medieval French name Ricarde, which was a feminine form of Ricard, meaning 'strong power' or 'powerful leader'. The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages in France but has since become quite rare. It is composed of the elements ric, meaning 'power', and hard, 'strong', 'hardy', or 'brave'. Despite its masculine counterparts Richard and Ricardo being widespread, Richardine remains a rarity, perhaps due to its more challenging pronunciation and spelling for some speakers. In literature, there are no notable characters named Richardine, allowing the bearer of this name to create their own unique identity.
The name Richardine appears to have been moderately popular among parents during the mid-20th century, with a total of 146 babies named Richardine born between 1922 and 1959. The name's popularity peaked in 1944 with 12 births that year, but it was consistently used throughout this period, with at least one birth recorded every year except for 1923, 1925, 1927-1929, 1931, 1933, and 1945-1946.