Russ Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Russ has its origins in Old Norse, meaning 'red-haired'. It has evolved through various forms such as Rúsi and Russe before becoming Russ in modern English. The name is connected to the historical people known as the Rus. It has gained popularity in the 20th century and is often perceived as friendly and approachable. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Russ is most popular in Washington, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Russ has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Russ' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2647th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1323rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 569th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 866th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2200th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7781st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6645th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Russ' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Russ"
Pronunciation
/rʌs/
Origin
Old Norse
Etymology
The name Russ is derived from the Old Norse name 'Rúsi', which means 'the one who comes from the land of the Rus'. The term 'Rus' originally referred to a group of people who settled in Eastern Europe.
Meaning
Red-haired
Language Evolution
Rúsi (Old Norse), Russe (Old French), Russ (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Russ gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Russell, Rusty, Rus
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Russ is often associated with a friendly and approachable persona, and it carries a casual, laid-back image.
Famous People
Russell Crowe, Russell Brand, Russell Westbrook
Explore More Russ Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Russ"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Russ"
"Russ" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2647th of 7545 | 155 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1323rd of 6773 | 487 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 569th of 7552 | 3,288 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 866th of 10718 | 1,409 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2200th of 16616 | 482 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7781st of 24088 | 135 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6645th of 23106 | 149 |
Regional Popularity of "Russ" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
57.12% 883rd/1546 |
59.58% 927th/1556 |
- |
44.99% 696th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
19.76% 440th/2227 |
23.42% 569th/2430 |
30.07% 858th/2853 |
15.14% 420th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
27.58% 810th/2937 |
30.98% 1079th/3483 |
31.72% 1116th/3518 |
22.35% 904th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
64.02% 3325th/5194 |
48.01% 3033rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Russ" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Russ"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Russ" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.