Russ
A diminutive of the male given name Russell.
Every Russ since 1898 — 6,131 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Russ
Russ is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,008 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1898, 6,131 American babies have been named Russ. Its peak came in 1959, when 350 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Russ stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Russ year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #5,008 |
| 2024 | 14 | #6,413 |
| 2023 | 21 | #4,856 |
| 2022 | 21 | #4,819 |
| 2021 | 18 | #5,293 |
| 2020 | 17 | #5,415 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7,541 |
| 2018 | 13 | #6,636 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10,558 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9,507 |
| 2015 | 8 | #9,410 |
| 2014 | 5 | #13,677 |
| 2013 | 6 | #11,877 |
| 2012 | 12 | #6,954 |
| 2011 | 12 | #6,924 |
| 2010 | 7 | #10,541 |
| 2009 | 5 | #14,093 |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | 12 | #7,001 |
| 2006 | 5 | #13,627 |
| 2005 | 9 | #8,169 |
| 2004 | 7 | #9,742 |
| 2003 | 7 | #9,416 |
| 2002 | 7 | #9,194 |
| 2001 | 9 | #7,404 |
| 2000 | 9 | #7,287 |
| 1995 | 15 | #4,233 |
| 1990 | 24 | #2,760 |
| 1985 | 34 | #1,785 |
| 1980 | 60 | #1,184 |
| 1975 | 52 | #1,177 |
| 1970 | 127 | #731 |
| 1965 | 180 | #571 |
| 1960 | 341 | #435 |
| 1955 | 96 | #751 |
| 1950 | 53 | #954 |
| 1945 | 73 | #716 |
| 1940 | 35 | #1,127 |
| 1935 | 11 | #2,374 |
| 1930 | 9 | #2,978 |
| 1925 | 9 | #3,111 |
| 1920 | 8 | #3,445 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,347 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Russ
- Russ Meyer Film director · 1922–2004
- Russ Tamblyn Actor · b. 1934
- Russ Feingold Politician · b. 1953
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Russ mean?
A diminutive of the male given name Russell.
How popular is the name Russ in 2025?
Russ ranked #5,008 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Russ?
6,131 babies have been named Russ in the United States since 1898, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Russ most popular?
Russ peaked in 1959, when 350 newborns received the name.
Is Russ a boy or girl name?
Russ is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Russ rising or falling?
Russ is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Russ?
Well-known people named Russ include Russ Meyer (film director), Russ Tamblyn (actor), Russ Feingold (politician).