Diminutive of Richard, from Germanic elements meaning 'brave ruler' or 'strong king.'
Rickey is a variant spelling of Ricky, itself a diminutive of Richard — a name of Old High German origin composed of ric ("power," "ruler") and hard ("brave," "hardy"). Richard entered England with the Normans after 1066 and became one of the most popular medieval English names, borne by three kings of England including Richard I (Coeur de Lion), the crusading warrior-king whose legend loomed large over the medieval imagination. The full name Richard generated a remarkable family of diminutives — Rick, Rich, Ricky, Dick, Dickie — testimony to its centuries of widespread use.
Rickey as a distinct spelling has particular resonance in American culture, especially in the South and in African-American communities where creative respelling has long been a meaningful practice of personalization and distinction. Rickey Henderson, the Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder who is widely considered the greatest leadoff hitter and basestealer in the sport's history, is the name's most celebrated bearer — a player of such singular genius that he often referred to himself in the third person, as if Rickey Henderson were a title as much as a name. Rickey Smiley, the comedian and radio personality, adds a different dimension of cultural presence.
The -ey ending gives Rickey a warmth and informality that the standard Ricky lacks by a degree, suggesting a name that was chosen, not inherited by convention. It carries the energy of a name that gets things done.