Russell
Boy name · #345 in 2025 · Uniqueness 48/100
Russell ranks #345 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 944 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #403, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,907 boys born in 2025 was named Russell.
Babies named Russell per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Russell first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 62 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1960, when 7,487 boys were named Russell — good for #56 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Russell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Russell in class?
Russell scores 48 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Russell is most common
Geography matters for names, and Russell is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Russells were CA (86), OH (51), TX (47), NY (37), IN (35). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Russell
Statistically, parents drawn to Russell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kenneth, Paul, Richard, Jeffrey, and Stephen.
KennethPaulRichardJeffreyStephenTimothyGregorySteven
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Russell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 944 | #345 |
| 2024 | 897 | #367 |
| 2023 | 815 | #391 |
| 2022 | 868 | #373 |
| 2021 | 919 | #355 |
| 2020 | 842 | #370 |
| 2019 | 804 | #391 |
| 2018 | 769 | #413 |
| 2017 | 790 | #404 |
| 2016 | 785 | #407 |
| 2015 | 769 | #403 |
| 2014 | 757 | #410 |
| 2013 | 672 | #433 |
| 2012 | 657 | #426 |
| 2011 | 707 | #401 |
| 2010 | 699 | #403 |
| 2009 | 646 | #434 |
| 2008 | 726 | #405 |
| 2007 | 712 | #409 |
| 2006 | 741 | #403 |
| 2005 | 731 | #392 |
| 2004 | 768 | #362 |
| 2003 | 811 | #343 |
| 2002 | 838 | #327 |
| 2001 | 925 | #307 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Russell a popular boy name?
Russell ranked #345 among boys in 2025 with 944 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #403.
When was the name Russell most popular?
Russell peaked in 1960, when 7,487 American boys received the name (ranked #56 that year). Since 1960 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Russell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,907 newborn American boys was named Russell. It scores 48/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.