Russell

Russell - A very unique male name

Russell appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #56. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Russell and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Russell? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Russell. The baby boy name Russell was given to 925 baby boys in 2025, ranking #347 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,585 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Russell peaked in popularity 112 years ago in 1914 on position 49.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Russell, 1-5?

Russell is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Russell is currently topping the baby name charts in Idaho at position #115 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #724.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Russell is where you live.

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Russell origin and meaning

Old French, transferred surname

'Red-haired, ruddy' — a diminutive of Old French rous, 'red'

Russell began as a French nickname surname for a red-haired or ruddy man, from rous, red, with a diminutive ending. It has been a steady US name since 1910 and peaked in 1960. After a long decline it has risen in rank since 2020.

Attested etymology

Russell is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Russell, pop culture references for the name Russell and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Russell

We've found the following names that sound similar to Russell, sorted by popularity.

Rogelio / Russel / Rojelio / Rosalio / Raziel / Rockwell / Rachel / Roswell / Rushil / Rigel /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Russell

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Russell a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Russell?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

RUS-ul · /ˈrʌsəl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Russel — Single-l spelling

Nicknames: RussRusty

Famous bearers

• Russell Crowe — Actor; Russell is his given name (b. 1964) Contemporary
• Russell Wilson — American football quarterback; Russell is his given name (b. 1988) Contemporary

Style

ClassicSurname

Why parents choose it

Russell is a sturdy mid-century classic that is quietly turning a corner, with Russ as a straightforward short form.

Worth knowing

• Most famous Russells — Crowe, Wilson, Brand — are unevenly split between given name and surname, and Russell is often mistaken for a surname only.