Russell

Meaning: Red-haired
Origin: English surname — From a Norman nickname

Nicknames: Russ

Boy's name · #345 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Russell holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#345 in 2025). About 360,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Russell is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 44 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Russell ranks in other countries and regions.

#390 in Canada (2025) · #560 in Scotland (2025) · #953 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,026 in Ecuador (2025) · #2,159 in Sweden (2024) · #21,800 in Italy (2023) · #657 in Ireland (2022) · #392 in N. Ireland (2020) · #6,230 in France (2017) · #384 in New Zealand (2014) · #94 in Australia (QLD) (1987) · #97 in Australia (NSW) (1985).

Famous Russells

Russell Crowe — New Zealand actor (born 1964)
Russell Alan Hulse — American astronomer (born 1950)
Russell Westbrook — American basketball player (born 1988)
Russell Brand — English comedian, actor, and podcaster (born 1975)
Russell Tovey — British actor (born 1981)
Russell Means — Native American activist (1939–2012)
Russell Peters — Canadian comedian and actor (born 1970)

In stories & tradition

Russell — Pixar character
Russell Lightbourne^es — The 100 (TV series)
Russell Taylor — Fictional character featured in TNT's The Closer and its spin-off Major Crimes

What Russells become

Among 1,521 notable people named Russell:

Sports figures appear 1.32× more often than among typical names — e.g. Russell Westbrook, American basketball player (born 1988).

Similar names: Martin · Rudy · Lawrence · Manuel · Paul · Ray

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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