Rufus
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Rufus
Rufus is a rumpled, redheaded (it was the nickname for red-haired King William) ancient Roman name popular with saints and singers (e.g. Rufus Wainwright); now, Rufus is on the cutting edge of cool.
Fellow singer James Taylor named one of his twins Rufus, and Rufus Humphrey is a Gossip Girl character. Rufus Sewell is a commanding, intense English actor.
Rufus is mentioned in the New Testament as the name of a son of Simon the Cytherian, and there are several St. Rufuses. He's also a major figure in the George Eliot novel Felix Holt: The Radical, an honest and passionate preacher and politician.
Rufus is also given to girls.
Pronounced ROO-fus.
As of October 2026, Rufus ranked #4019 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #88 in 1880, Nameberry popularity #666.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #4,827 | 20 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #2,797 | 43 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #3,281 | 35 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #3,238 | 36 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #4,082 | 26 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #3,698 | 30 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #4,003 | 26 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #4,210 | 25 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #4,068 | 27 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #4,151 | 26 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #4,019 | 27 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Rufus for boys
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rufus.
Rufus on lists
Famous Rufuss
- Rufus McGarrigle WainwrightBoy
Canadian singer,songwriter
- Rufus KingBoy
U.S. senator from New York
- Rufus ChoateBoy
U.S. senator from Massachusetts
- Rufus Frederik SewellBoy
English actor
- Rufus ThomasBoy
American R&B singer
- Rufus ReidBoy
American jazz bassist
- Rufus Arthur Johnson aka BizarreBoy
American rapper
- Rufus Cooper III aka Young NobleBoy
American rapper
- Rufus Wilmot GriswoldBoy
American anthologist and poet
- Rufus R. "Freight Train" Jones (born Carey L. Lloyd)Boy
American pro wrestler
- Rufus Smith FrostBoy
U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts
- RufusBoy
mentioned in Paul's letter to the Romans (16:13)
- Rufus Tiger Taylor (b. 1991)Boy
American musician of The Darkness; son of drummer Roger Taylor of Queen
- Rufus William Rawdon Slim (b. 1995)Boy
son of the 2nd Viscount Slim
- Rufus Logan Taylor (b. 2001)Boy
son of singer/songwriter James Taylor; twin brother Henry David
- Rufus Murphy DunstanBoy
one of the triplet sons of Australian youtubers Rohan and Chloe Dunstan (Life with Beans); siblings are Evan, Otto, Felix, Henry, & Pearl
- Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus SutherlandBoy
Canadian actor
Rufus in pop culture
- RufusBoy
the 13th apostle in film "Dogma"
- RufusBoy
character in movie "Kill Bill"
- Rufus BarmaBoy
character in the manga/anime "Pandora Hearts"
- Rufus ScrimgeourBoy
character in the "Harry Potter" series
- RufusBoy
naked mole rat on animated series "Kim Possible"
- Rufus ShinRaBoy
character in video game "Final Fantasy VII"
- Rufus "Roofy" JonesBoy
baby in Nick Hornby's "Slam"
- Rufus HumphreyBoy
character on TV's "Gossip Girl"
- Rufus SixsmithBoy
character in David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas"
- Rufus LoreBoy
character in manga and anime 'Fairy Tail'
- Rufus WeylinBoy
despicable slaveowner in Octavia Butler's "Kindred"
- RufusBoy
time,traveling character in the "Bill & Ted" franchise
- Rufus TurnerBoy
character on TV's "Supernatural"
- Rufus RavenBoy
character in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series
- Rufus HodgekissBoy
character in "The Author's Apprentice"
- RufusBoy
villain in TV's "House of Anubis"
- Rufus T. FireflyBoy
Groucho Marx's character in "Duck Soup"