Where does the name Russell come from?

Russell is a boy name of French origin.

Is Russell a boy or a girl name?

Russell is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Russell are girls and 100% are boys.

How popular is the name Russell in 2023?

Russell ranks #393 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 7,510 babies.

How do you pronounce Russell?

Russell is pronounced RUS-el (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Russell?

Russell is also written as Russ, Rusty, Russel.

A name from French · Boy

Russell

From Old French rous ('red-haired') with the diminutive -el; originally a Norman nickname for a red-haired or red-cheeked person. A surname turned given name.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

357,939 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

815 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

RFrom Old French rous ('red-haired') with the diminutive -el; originally a Norman nickname for a red-haired or red-cheeked person. A surname turned given name.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Russell".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Russ Most common Rusty Russel

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Russell.

R
Russell Crowe (Oscar-winning actor)
R
Russell Wilson (NFL quarterback)
R
Russell Westbrook (NBA MVP)

Quick answers

People often ask about Russell.

What does the name Russell mean?: Russell means from Old French rous ('red-haired') with the diminutive -el; originally a Norman nickname for a red-haired or red-cheeked person. A surname turned given name.
Where does the name Russell come from?: Russell is a boy name of French origin.
Is Russell a boy or a girl name?: Russell is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Russell are girls and 100% are boys.
How popular is the name Russell in 2023?: Russell ranks #393 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1960 with 7,510 babies.
How do you pronounce Russell?: Russell is pronounced RUS-el (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Russell?: Russell is also written as Russ, Rusty, Russel.

Similar names

If you love Russell, also consider…

Amy

#199

Girl ·French

From Old French Amee, 'beloved', from Latin amata ('loved')

Nicole

#326

Girl ·French

French feminine of Nicholas — from Greek nikē ('victory') + laos ('people'); literally 'victory of the people'

Diane

#2829

Girl ·French

French form of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and wild nature — ultimately from an Indo-European root meaning 'divine' or 'heavenly'

Julie

#704

Girl ·French

French form of Julia, feminine of Julius — from the Latin Iulius, an ancient Roman family name traditionally explained as 'youthful' or 'descended from Jupiter'

Charlotte

#6280

Girl ·French

Free woman; feminine of Charles

Denise

#1462

Girl ·French

French feminine of Denis, ultimately from Greek Dionysios — 'devoted to Dionysus', the god of wine and ecstasy

Brittany

#858

Girl ·French

From the region of Brittany in northwestern France — the name itself comes from the Britons who fled there from Roman Britain

Louise

#583

Girl ·French

French feminine of Louis, from Germanic hlud ('famous') + wig ('battle'); 'famous warrior'

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.