Ruffus: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	20	2	–	#771
1890s	5	1	-75%	#1,228
1900s	11	1	+120%	#1,373
1910s	112	11	+918%	#1,515
1920s	203	20	+81%	#1,321
1930s	150	15	-26%	#1,634
1940s	105	11	-30%	#1,515
1950s	60	6	-43%	#2,476
1960s	8	1	-87%	#3,313
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#771

1890s

-75%

#1,228

1900s

+120%

#1,373

1910s

112

+918%

#1,515

1920s

203

+81%

#1,321

1930s

150

-26%

#1,634

1940s

105

-30%

#1,515

1950s

-43%

#2,476

1960s

-87%

#3,313

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Ruffus

Ruffus is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1881, 674 American babies have been named Ruffus. Its peak came in 1922, when 31 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ruffus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ruffus?

The median living Ruffus is about 79 years old; half are between 73 and 85. An estimated 100 people named Ruffus are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ruffus year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	6	#3,820
1950	10	#2,552
1945	6	#3,274
1940	21	#1,515
1935	13	#2,109
1930	18	#1,807
1925	17	#1,998
1920	17	#2,038
1915	15	#1,950
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ruffus, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ruffus?

The median living Ruffus is about 79 years old. Half of all living Ruffuss are between 73 and 85 years old.

How many people named Ruffus are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Ruffus are alive in the United States, based on 674 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ruffus mean?

Spelling variant of Rufus.

How popular is the name Ruffus in 2025?

Ruffus did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ruffus?

674 babies have been named Ruffus in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ruffus most popular?

Ruffus peaked in 1922, when 31 newborns received the name.

Is Ruffus a boy or girl name?

Ruffus is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ruffus rising or falling?

Ruffus has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Ruffus

Ruffus popularity over time

The story of Ruffus

How old are people named Ruffus?

Ruffus year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Ruffus