Russ
Russ is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Little red one or red-haired.
Origin and history
Russ originated as a nickname for someone with red hair or a reddish complexion, derived from the Old French word 'rous'. It is also widely recognized as a short form of the name Russell. In the United States, Russ enjoyed moderate popularity in the mid-20th century and remains a familiar, classic masculine name.
Popularity in the United States
6,131 babies in the United States have been named Russ since 1880. It ranks #1536 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1816.
States where it is most popular
- CA (22.5 %)
- NY (9.9 %)
- MI (7.4 %)
- IL (6.7 %)
- TX (6.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 6 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 66 |
| 1920-1930 | 106 |
| 1930-1940 | 173 |
| 1940-1950 | 624 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,415 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,217 |
| 1970-1980 | 673 |
| 1980-1990 | 405 |
| 1990-2000 | 171 |
| 2000-2010 | 70 |
| 2010-2019 | 89 |
| 2020-2029 | 111 |
Famous people named Russ
- Russ Meyer: Director, Filmmaker
- Russ Tamblyn: Actor, Dancer
Fun facts
- Russ originally came from the Norman French word 'rous', which was used to describe someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.
- While originally an independent nickname, Russ became widely popular as the primary short form for the given name Russell.