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Russell as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Russell

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The baby name Russell is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrʌsəl/ (RUSS-əl).

Russell is French in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: French
Pronunciation: /ˈrʌsəl/ (RUSS-əl)

What is the meaning of the name Russell ?

The baby name Russell is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrʌsəl/ (RUSS-əl).

Russell is French in Origin.

Russell is an English given name and surname of Norman French origin, derived from Old French rous, meaning “red(-haired), ruddy,” plus the diminutive suffix -el, giving the sense “little red one” or “red-haired.” Brought to Britain by the Normans, Roussel/Rousel began as a medieval byname before settling as the hereditary surname Russell, notably linked with the Bedford ducal family.

Adopted as a first name in the 18th and 19th centuries, Russell ranked strongly in Britain and the United States through the early to mid-20th century before a gradual decline; today it feels like a sturdy vintage choice. Short forms include Russ and the informal Rusty; variant spellings include Russel and the French Roussel. An Irish Gaelic form, Ruiséal, appears as a surname cognate. Well-known bearers such as philosopher Bertrand Russell and actor Russell Crowe have kept the name widely recognizable.

Russell has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Russell

Russell Crowe Actor · Born 1964 · Australia Russell Crowe is an Australian actor best known for his role as Maximus in the film Gladiator. He also starred in A Beautiful Mind and Les Misérables. Born in 1964, Crowe has become one of the most recognized actors in Hollywood. Russell Tovey Actor · Born 1981 · United Kingdom Russell Tovey is a British actor best known for his role as George Sands in the supernatural drama series 'Being Human'. He has also appeared in the television series 'The History Boys' and 'Looking'. Born in 1981, Tovey has become a familiar face on both British and American television. Russell Means Actor|musician · Born 1939 · United States Russell Means was a prominent Native American activist and actor, best known for his leadership in the American Indian Movement and his role in the film 'The Last of the Mohicans'. He also appeared in 'Natural Born Killers'. Means was a passionate advocate for the rights of Indigenous peoples in the United States.
Russell Peters Actor · Born 1970 · Canada Russell Peters is a Canadian comedian and actor known for his observational humor and stand-up comedy. He gained fame with his comedy specials like 'Outsourced' and 'Red, White and Brown'. Born in 1970, he has become one of the most successful comedians in Canada. Russell Wong Actor · Born 1963 · United States Russell Wong is an American actor best known for his role in the television series 'Vanishing Son'. He also appeared in films like 'Romeo Must Die' and 'The Joy Luck Club'. Born in 1963, Wong has made a significant impact in both television and film. Russell Hornsby Actor · Born 1974 · United States Russell Hornsby is an American actor best known for his role as Hank Griffin in the TV series Grimm. He also starred in the film The Hate U Give and played Lyons in the movie adaptation of Fences. Born in 1974, Hornsby has built a diverse career in both television and film.

Russell – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2022 #1 — 794
HN 0 #22 1 704
NA 0 #32 2 2,537
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
MO 0 #49 4 2,706
CM 0 #55 2 2,592
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
PH 0 #86 11 5,607
JM 0 #89 5 3,714
QA 0 #102 5 7,011
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
KW 0 #120 2 5,216
OM 0 #120 2 6,215
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
CY Boys 0 #129 3 3,473
IQ 0 #130 4 3,533
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
PA 0 #136 3 3,797
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
CR 0 #145 14 5,526
MT Boys 0 #145 32 4,064
BW Boys 0 #148 7 4,685
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
AE 0 #165 13 10,220
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
Sweden Boys 2016 #191 2 1,526
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
BD 0 #217 11 5,992
Canada Boys 2024 #218 91 2,588
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
TW Boys 0 #219 23 7,111
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
NA Boys 0 #223 13 6,830
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
SG 0 #226 44 11,010
MO Boys 0 #231 4 5,842
AO Boys 0 #245 5 5,568
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
GH 0 #248 1 5,396
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
JM Boys 0 #253 20 6,876
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
NG 0 #269 4 5,926
GR Boys 0 #271 3 6,912
IQ Girls 0 #275 260 11,303
JM Girls 0 #275 4 7,507
IL 0 #281 2 6,291
JP Boys 0 #284 14 7,909
SA 0 #284 12 10,560
KZ Boys 0 #288 9 6,578
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
PH Boys 0 #290 94 11,440
CN Boys 0 #291 29 9,639
CZ Boys 0 #299 7 6,530
MY 0 #314 17 12,352
GH Boys 0 #326 20 8,138
PE 0 #326 4 6,350
DK Boys 0 #329 4 7,401
United States Boys 2024 #335 892 7,044
HK 0 #336 13 8,483
JO Girls 0 #336 4 7,570
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
QA Girls 0 #342 2 15,378
ZA 0 #342 106 14,421
CN Girls 0 #358 2 8,829
MU Boys 0 #364 6 8,477
PH Girls 0 #374 17 13,098
PT Boys 0 #376 6 7,951
CR Boys 0 #387 101 10,188
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
France Boys 2017 #393 4 2,842
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
SG Boys 0 #402 320 17,960
BD Girls 0 #405 2 8,413
BO 0 #405 4 6,868
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
BD Boys 0 #432 150 10,045
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
MX 0 #437 9 8,339
HK Boys 0 #441 87 12,905
RU Boys 0 #465 41 12,621
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
AR Boys 0 #481 3 7,628
GT Boys 0 #496 4 7,625
PA Boys 0 #499 7 9,305
CM Boys 0 #512 39 12,054
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
PS Boys 0 #526 23 10,655
UY Girls 0 #533 4 6,731
BH 0 #536 18 17,937
IR Boys 0 #539 14 10,162
BO Boys 0 #544 49 9,244
LY 0 #552 8 12,703
KW Girls 0 #553 9 19,177
CM Girls 0 #558 3 11,671
ZA Boys 0 #560 864 25,619
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
IL Boys 0 #588 20 10,983
AE Girls 0 #590 8 20,968
SG Girls 0 #629 4 18,916
BO Girls 0 #645 7 9,488
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
IQ Boys 0 #645 23 13,071
CL Boys 0 #648 18 13,390
QA Boys 0 #663 45 18,093
Finland Boys 2026 #675 8 3,552
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
PE Boys 0 #697 183 14,506
IT 0 #698 17 4,183
KW Boys 0 #741 29 18,755
SY 0 #759 9 11,684
BR Boys 0 #783 3 12,213
MX Boys 0 #784 202 16,355
NG Girls 0 #820 7 15,093
OM Boys 0 #846 36 17,948
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
Spain Boys 0 #869 62 5,610
NG Boys 0 #874 78 16,906
EG Boys 0 #877 10 15,035
CO Boys 0 #887 34 15,656
NL Boys 0 #903 49 5,873
United States Girls 2004 #907 10 9,828
SA Girls 0 #919 17 25,931
Germany Boys 0 #930 23 5,697
MY Boys 0 #940 172 25,439
MY Girls 0 #985 10 24,821
IN Boys 0 #989 13 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,000 93 22,615
EG Girls 0 #1,006 4 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,008 3 14,861
ZA Girls 0 #1,128 14 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,173 11 17,781
MA 0 #1,193 7 20,986
TR 0 #1,195 17 19,440
DZ 0 #1,227 8 20,130
IT Boys 0 #1,358 114 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,472 143 28,008

Russell is popular in 81 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
Canada
United States
France

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Russell

Russell is predominantly a boy's name.
Russell is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈrʌsəl/ (RUSS-əl).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Russel, Roussel, Rousel, Russ and Rusty.
Across languages, Russell has these equivalents: Rufus (Latin: 'red-haired'), Roussel (French).
Yes, very popular — Russell ranked #1 in Ireland in 2022, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Russell ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2022).
Russell's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2012 to #1 in 2022 in Ireland.
Yes — 6 notable people named Russell are in our database, including Russell Crowe (Actor), Russell Tovey (Actor), Russell Means (Actor|musician).