Ruff as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ruff

What is the meaning of the name Ruff ?

The baby name Ruff is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced ruf (IPA: /rʌf/).

Ruff is English in Origin.

Ruff is a rare English given name most often understood as a clipped form of Rufus, from Latin rufus “red, ruddy,” a byname for red‑haired men; William II of England was famously called “Rufus.” As a surname, Ruff arose in both England and German‑speaking Europe: in English from the same “red‑haired” byname, and in German as a variant of Ruff/Rupp, pet forms of Rudolf or Ruprecht. For a given name, the prevailing meaning attached to Ruff is “red‑haired” or “ruddy.”

Usage as a first name appears sporadically in Britain and North America from the 18th to 20th centuries, often as an informal short form of Rufus or as a transferred surname. Variants and relatives include Rufus, Rufe, Ruf, Ruffe, Ruffin/Rufin, and the Romance forms Rufino; feminine counterparts are Rufa and Rufina. The name’s compact, rugged sound gives it a brisk, understated vintage feel.

⚙ Ruff is a rare find. Across 33 countries, we found 149 recorded uses of it.