Russell
Top 1000
About Russell
One of many R- boys' names that started as a nickname for a redhead, Russell had a measure of popularity from the early twentieth century through the 1950s. After a low point in the 2010s, Russell is starting to regain its color. For many parents, it's an ideal sweet spot name — a traditional choice that's familiar, yet not overly popular.
Russell has been much more common as a surname, whose many namesakes have included philosopher Bertrand, Gay Nineties entertainer Lillian, actresses Rosalind, Jane, and Keri, actor Kurt, basketball star Bill, and singer Leon.
As of October 2026, Russell ranked #345 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #48 in 1904, Nameberry popularity #535.
Editor's take: The name Russell is a boy's name of French origin meaning "redhead, fox-colored".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #410 | 757 | 394.1 |
| 2015 | #403 | 769 | 401.2 |
| 2016 | #407 | 785 | 413.7 |
| 2017 | #404 | 789 | 426.3 |
| 2018 | #413 | 769 | 423.4 |
| 2019 | #391 | 804 | 448.1 |
| 2020 | #370 | 842 | 487.8 |
| 2021 | #355 | 919 | 525.3 |
| 2022 | #373 | 866 | 496 |
| 2023 | #393 | 814 | 475.9 |
| 2024 | #367 | 892 | 517.7 |
| 2025 | #345 | 944 | 552.7 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Russell.
Famous Russells
- Russell Ira Crowe
Australian actor
- Russell Wendell Simmons
American entrepreneur
- Russell Edward Brand
English actor and comedian
- Russell Dominic Peters
Canadian comedian
- Russell George Tovey
English actor
- Russell Allen
American football player
- Russell Allen
American musician of Symphony X
- Russell Okung
American NFL player
- Russell Carrington Wilson
American NFL quarterback
- Russell Westbrook
American basketball player
- Russell Joseph Howard
British Comedian
- Russell T Davies
stage name of Stephen Russell Davies, Welsh screenwriter
- Russell Alan Hulse
winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics
- Russell Louis "Rusty" Schweickart
American astronaut
- Ryder Russell Robinson
son of actress Kate Hudson and musician Chris Robinson
- Russell Wallace Day
son of Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis
- Russell Franke (b. 2011)
son of YouTube vlogger Ruby Franke from the channel 8Passengers
Russell in pop culture
- Russel
James "Rusty,James", main character of S.E. Hinton novel Rumble Fish
- Russell "Rusty" Collins
also known as Firefist, character in Marvel Universe
- Russell
character from "Up"
- Russell Van Eden
character from "What About Mimi?"
- Russell Edgington
character from the TV show "True Blood"
- Russell Winslow
from the TV series "Brotherly Love"
- Russell Finley
from the movie "Wayne's World"
- Russell Ferguson
character in the 2012 "Littlest Pet Shop" animated series
- Russell Jackson
character on TV's "Madam Secretary"