Rusty
Boy name · #2371 in 2025 · Uniqueness 43/100
In 2025, 58 baby boys were named Rusty, placing it at #2371 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2641, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 boys born in 2025 was named Rusty.
The 98-year story
Rusty first appears in the Social Security records in 1927, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1961, when 576 boys were named Rusty — good for #328 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.
Babies named Rusty per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rusty against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rusty in class?
Rusty scores 43 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 Rusty is most common
State-level data for Rusty is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Rusty
Statistically, parents drawn to Rusty tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rickey, Dusty, Kerry, Marty, and Monty.
RickeyDustyKerryMartyMontyRandyRickyRobbie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rusty | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2363 |
| 2024 | 35 | #3335 |
| 2023 | 38 | #3177 |
| 2022 | 34 | #3412 |
| 2021 | 43 | #2862 |
| 2020 | 27 | #3811 |
| 2019 | 27 | #3899 |
| 2018 | 28 | #3793 |
| 2017 | 32 | #3440 |
| 2016 | 40 | #2935 |
| 2015 | 46 | #2641 |
| 2014 | 43 | #2754 |
| 2013 | 35 | #3122 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3002 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2748 |
| 2010 | 45 | #2682 |
| 2009 | 31 | #3476 |
| 2008 | 43 | #2788 |
| 2007 | 54 | #2372 |
| 2006 | 41 | #2784 |
| 2005 | 78 | #1711 |
| 2004 | 65 | #1880 |
| 2003 | 76 | #1646 |
| 2002 | 67 | #1723 |
| 2001 | 70 | #1659 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Rusty a popular boy name?
Rusty ranked #2371 among boys in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2641.
When was the name Rusty most popular?
Rusty peaked in 1961, when 576 American boys received the name (ranked #328 that year). Since 1961 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rusty?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American boys was named Rusty. It scores 43/100 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.