Fun Facts About the Name Russell
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 359,764 boys named Russell from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Russell stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 94 consecutive years, from 1889 through 1982.
- More than 361 thousand babies named Russell: U.S. records list 361,460 babies given the name Russell from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,696 girls received the name Russell - about 1 girl for every 212 boys.
What Does the Name Russell Mean?
Russell is an English name of Old French origin. It comes from the Old French roussel, a diminutive of rous or roux, meaning 'red.' The base word goes back to Latin russus, also 'red.' Literally the nickname meant 'little red one,' and it described someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The meaning is descriptive, not symbolic.
Russell Name History & Origins
Russell began as a surname rather than a given name. Norman French speakers brought nickname surnames of this type to England after the Norman Conquest, and Russell appears in medieval English records as a hereditary surname. It belongs to the large group of French-derived surnames that described appearance.
The Russell family rose to prominence in English history: John Russell was made Earl of Bedford in 1550, and the family later held the dukedom of Bedford. That noble line kept the surname visible, but the name itself came from the earlier Old French nickname.
As a first name, Russell follows the English practice of turning surnames into given names. It was in established use as a male given name in the English-speaking world by the 19th century. Notable bearers include the philosopher Bertrand Russell and the British statesman Lord John Russell.
How Popular is the Name Russell?
Russell has maintained century-spanning popularity, remaining an unbroken fixture in the U.S. top 100 continuously from 1889 to 1982.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | #10,528 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #8,000 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #7,935 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #6,509 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #7,903 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #7,555 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #4,432 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #4,158 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1985 | #9,060 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #3,501 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1983 | #2,713 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1982 | #2,937 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1981 | #2,905 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1980 | #2,985 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1979 | #3,309 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1978 | #2,919 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1977 | #2,976 | 27 | 0.0018% |
| 1976 | #5,122 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #3,232 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #4,948 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #2,894 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1972 | #2,884 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1971 | #2,787 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1970 | #2,765 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #2,633 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #2,471 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1967 | #2,767 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #2,561 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #3,132 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,519 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #2,532 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1962 | #2,519 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1961 | #2,141 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 1960 | #2,563 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #2,384 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1958 | #2,563 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,405 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #2,801 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #3,073 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,872 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,794 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #2,489 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #3,081 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1950 | #2,416 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,706 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,116 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1947 | #2,272 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #2,299 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #2,431 | 14 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,918 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #2,335 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #2,404 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1941 | #2,177 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1940 | #2,391 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #2,891 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #2,707 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #2,179 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1936 | #2,133 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #2,287 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1934 | #1,762 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #2,260 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1932 | #2,019 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1931 | #1,672 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1930 | #1,528 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1929 | #1,520 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1928 | #1,391 | 32 | 0.0028% |
| 1927 | #1,817 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1926 | #1,584 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1925 | #2,179 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #1,858 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1923 | #1,823 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1922 | #1,606 | 28 | 0.0023% |
| 1921 | #1,569 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1920 | #1,401 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1919 | #1,847 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1918 | #2,091 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #1,599 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1916 | #1,625 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1915 | #2,866 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #2,106 | 12 | 0.0016% |
| 1913 | #1,865 | 12 | 0.0019% |
| 1912 | #1,607 | 13 | 0.0023% |
| 1911 | #1,773 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1909 | #1,933 | 7 | 0.0020% |
| 1908 | #2,378 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1906 | #1,919 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1905 | #1,894 | 6 | 0.0021% |
| 1904 | #2,129 | 5 | 0.0018% |
| 1901 | #1,446 | 7 | 0.0029% |
| 1899 | #1,801 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1898 | #1,244 | 9 | 0.0035% |
| 1892 | #1,633 | 5 | 0.0024% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #345 | 944 | 0.0553% |
| 2024 | #367 | 892 | 0.0520% |
| 2023 | #393 | 814 | 0.0476% |
| 2022 | #373 | 866 | 0.0496% |
| 2021 | #355 | 919 | 0.0526% |
| 2020 | #370 | 842 | 0.0488% |
| 2019 | #391 | 804 | 0.0448% |
| 2018 | #413 | 769 | 0.0424% |
| 2017 | #404 | 789 | 0.0426% |
| 2016 | #407 | 785 | 0.0414% |
| 2015 | #403 | 769 | 0.0401% |
| 2014 | #410 | 757 | 0.0394% |
| 2013 | #433 | 672 | 0.0355% |
| 2012 | #426 | 657 | 0.0346% |
| 2011 | #402 | 707 | 0.0372% |
| 2010 | #405 | 698 | 0.0364% |
| 2009 | #434 | 646 | 0.0326% |
| 2008 | #407 | 726 | 0.0356% |
| 2007 | #410 | 712 | 0.0343% |
| 2006 | #403 | 740 | 0.0360% |
| 2005 | #394 | 730 | 0.0366% |
| 2004 | #363 | 768 | 0.0387% |
| 2003 | #343 | 811 | 0.0411% |
| 2002 | #327 | 838 | 0.0432% |
| 2001 | #307 | 925 | 0.0476% |
| 2000 | #320 | 894 | 0.0455% |
| 1999 | #325 | 855 | 0.0445% |
| 1998 | #297 | 952 | 0.0498% |
| 1997 | #256 | 1,100 | 0.0584% |
| 1996 | #260 | 1,086 | 0.0573% |
| 1995 | #240 | 1,205 | 0.0633% |
| 1994 | #235 | 1,269 | 0.0657% |
| 1993 | #201 | 1,517 | 0.0773% |
| 1992 | #185 | 1,711 | 0.0857% |
| 1991 | #174 | 1,833 | 0.0907% |
| 1990 | #142 | 2,213 | 0.1077% |
| 1989 | #136 | 2,217 | 0.1108% |
| 1988 | #128 | 2,298 | 0.1200% |
| 1987 | #119 | 2,379 | 0.1274% |
| 1986 | #116 | 2,407 | 0.1307% |
| 1985 | #110 | 2,573 | 0.1392% |
| 1984 | #106 | 2,685 | 0.1488% |
| 1983 | #104 | 2,744 | 0.1531% |
| 1982 | #97 | 3,033 | 0.1671% |
| 1981 | #98 | 3,048 | 0.1702% |
| 1980 | #92 | 3,269 | 0.1832% |
| 1979 | #92 | 3,132 | 0.1819% |
| 1978 | #93 | 2,984 | 0.1817% |
| 1977 | #89 | 3,124 | 0.1901% |
| 1976 | #87 | 2,999 | 0.1911% |
| 1975 | #82 | 3,232 | 0.2070% |
| 1974 | #84 | 3,168 | 0.2015% |
| 1973 | #77 | 3,397 | 0.2179% |
| 1972 | #69 | 3,783 | 0.2333% |
| 1971 | #64 | 4,543 | 0.2569% |
| 1970 | #58 | 5,106 | 0.2748% |
| 1969 | #57 | 5,156 | 0.2883% |
| 1968 | #56 | 5,097 | 0.2933% |
| 1967 | #58 | 4,890 | 0.2804% |
| 1966 | #61 | 4,858 | 0.2724% |
| 1965 | #58 | 5,645 | 0.3034% |
| 1964 | #58 | 6,241 | 0.3132% |
| 1963 | #57 | 6,699 | 0.3299% |
| 1962 | #57 | 7,044 | 0.3405% |
| 1961 | #55 | 7,335 | 0.3453% |
| 1960 | #56 | 7,482 | 0.3510% |
| 1959 | #56 | 7,480 | 0.3504% |
| 1958 | #54 | 7,153 | 0.3370% |
| 1957 | #54 | 7,224 | 0.3349% |
| 1956 | #52 | 7,402 | 0.3499% |
| 1955 | #57 | 6,538 | 0.3174% |
| 1954 | #69 | 5,761 | 0.2826% |
| 1953 | #71 | 5,374 | 0.2725% |
| 1952 | #70 | 5,349 | 0.2752% |
| 1951 | #73 | 5,175 | 0.2748% |
| 1950 | #67 | 4,945 | 0.2762% |
| 1949 | #69 | 5,007 | 0.2823% |
| 1948 | #67 | 5,109 | 0.2912% |
| 1947 | #69 | 5,270 | 0.2880% |
| 1946 | #66 | 4,741 | 0.2919% |
| 1945 | #64 | 3,806 | 0.2828% |
| 1944 | #63 | 3,931 | 0.2884% |
| 1943 | #73 | 3,752 | 0.2629% |
| 1942 | #70 | 3,675 | 0.2661% |
| 1941 | #75 | 3,032 | 0.2468% |
| 1940 | #72 | 3,012 | 0.2598% |
| 1939 | #73 | 2,833 | 0.2560% |
| 1938 | #70 | 2,950 | 0.2660% |
| 1937 | #67 | 2,895 | 0.2714% |
| 1936 | #69 | 2,832 | 0.2730% |
| 1935 | #68 | 2,832 | 0.2720% |
| 1934 | #70 | 2,737 | 0.2651% |
| 1933 | #67 | 2,697 | 0.2720% |
| 1932 | #63 | 3,020 | 0.2892% |
| 1931 | #63 | 2,943 | 0.2831% |
| 1930 | #60 | 3,101 | 0.2826% |
| 1929 | #56 | 3,183 | 0.2959% |
| 1928 | #55 | 3,325 | 0.3002% |
| 1927 | #54 | 3,540 | 0.3141% |
| 1926 | #52 | 3,793 | 0.3416% |
| 1925 | #53 | 3,804 | 0.3409% |
| 1924 | #52 | 3,946 | 0.3484% |
| 1923 | #52 | 3,805 | 0.3471% |
| 1922 | #49 | 3,965 | 0.3644% |
| 1921 | #52 | 3,946 | 0.3583% |
| 1920 | #51 | 3,901 | 0.3665% |
| 1919 | #50 | 3,645 | 0.3719% |
| 1918 | #50 | 3,833 | 0.3782% |
| 1917 | #52 | 3,436 | 0.3713% |
| 1916 | #51 | 3,330 | 0.3741% |
| 1915 | #51 | 3,250 | 0.3830% |
| 1914 | #49 | 2,568 | 0.3922% |
| 1913 | #50 | 1,946 | 0.3797% |
| 1912 | #56 | 1,449 | 0.3370% |
| 1911 | #55 | 770 | 0.3408% |
| 1910 | #58 | 615 | 0.3167% |
| 1909 | #58 | 528 | 0.3220% |
| 1908 | #57 | 523 | 0.3389% |
| 1907 | #57 | 503 | 0.3426% |
| 1906 | #53 | 459 | 0.3447% |
| 1905 | #58 | 432 | 0.3265% |
| 1904 | #48 | 473 | 0.3692% |
| 1903 | #56 | 390 | 0.3271% |
| 1902 | #53 | 422 | 0.3440% |
| 1901 | #50 | 395 | 0.3710% |
| 1900 | #62 | 427 | 0.2838% |
| 1899 | #56 | 338 | 0.3182% |
| 1898 | #61 | 359 | 0.2926% |
| 1897 | #64 | 295 | 0.2616% |
| 1896 | #64 | 327 | 0.2735% |
| 1895 | #66 | 300 | 0.2556% |
| 1894 | #72 | 278 | 0.2401% |
| 1893 | #75 | 246 | 0.2190% |
| 1892 | #75 | 269 | 0.2204% |
| 1891 | #87 | 186 | 0.1838% |
| 1890 | #95 | 182 | 0.1639% |
| 1889 | #89 | 198 | 0.1791% |
| 1888 | #115 | 146 | 0.1208% |
| 1887 | #133 | 96 | 0.0947% |
| 1886 | #122 | 115 | 0.1038% |
| 1885 | #145 | 94 | 0.0872% |
| 1884 | #135 | 107 | 0.0935% |
| 1883 | #180 | 67 | 0.0640% |
| 1882 | #185 | 73 | 0.0642% |
| 1881 | #181 | 65 | 0.0645% |
| 1880 | #197 | 62 | 0.0561% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Russell
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Russell Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Russell's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Russell's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.