Rusty

Rusty - A very unique male name

Rusty appeared on the charts for the first time in 1944 on position #1250. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rusty and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rusty? 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 Rusty. The baby boy name Rusty was given to 11 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3084 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 133,299 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rusty peaked in popularity 65 years ago in 1961 on position 325.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rusty, 1-5?

Rusty is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rusty is currently topping the baby name charts in Florida at position #2,044 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,414.

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 Rusty is where you live.

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Rusty origin and meaning

English — nickname name

From the English word rusty — originally a nickname for someone with reddish, rust-coloured hair, and also a short form of Russell

Rusty was given as a full name to American boys from the 1940s through the 1960s, peaking in 1961, in the era of nickname names like Rocky and Buddy. It vanished from the data in 2020 and has reappeared at very low levels.

Attested etymology

Rusty is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Rusty

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

Rashad / Rasheed / Rashaad / Rashid / Rashaud / Rashod / Rocket / Rashed / Rashida / Richad /

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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 Rusty

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 Rusty 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 Rusty?

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-tee · /ˈrʌsti/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Rustie — A rare spelling variant

Famous bearers

• Rusty Wallace — American NASCAR driver and Cup Series champion, born Russell Wallace and universally known as Rusty (b. 1956) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameWord name

Why parents choose it

Rusty is chosen for its easygoing, outdoorsy, all-American feel. It is unmistakably a nickname name, which is exactly its charm for some families.

Worth knowing

• In everyday English 'rusty' also means out of practice or corroded — the teasing writes itself.