Boy · #3,679 in 2026

Rastus

Name: Popularity of the name Rastus in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Rastus, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Rastus is a pejorative term traditionally associated with African Americans in the United States. It is considered offensive. As a type of stock character, Rastus is meant to portray ignorance and foolishness. Similar images have appeared in advertising, prominently as the mascot for Cream of Wheat, which prompted objections from activists.

Current Rank

#3,679

Peak Rank

#1,619 (1912)

Total Babies

111

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1887

First Year

1934

Last Year

1912

Peak Year

#1619

Peak Rank

111

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rastus

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history

Rastus has been used as a stereotypical, often derogatory, name for black men at least since 1880, when Joel Chandler Harris included a black deacon named "Brer Rastus" in the first Uncle Remus book. However, Rastus (a shortening of Erastus, the Greek name of, especially, Erastus of Corinth ) has never been particularly popular as a black name. For example, the 1870 census reported only 42 individuals named Rastus in the United States, of whom only four were Black or mulatto . Rastus — as a stereotypically happy black man, not as a particular person — became a familiar character in minstrel sh

The Story of Rastus

Rastus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1887, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1912, when 10 Rastuss were born — ranking #1,619 that year. As of 2026, Rastus ranks #3,679 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 111 Rastuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Rastus

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rastus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Rastas
Aristos
Rasta
Rattus
Erastus
Ratis
Ratus
Restless
Rests
Priestess
Roasts
Riotous

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rastus

What does the name Rastus mean?

How popular is Rastus in 2026?

In 2026, Rastus ranks #3,679 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Rastus most popular?

Rastus reached its peak popularity in 1912, ranking #1,619 that year with 10 babies given the name.

Is Rastus a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Rastus is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Rastus?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rastus include Reeves, Samarth, Bernardino. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Rastus

Rastus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1887 and has accumulated 111 births in the dataset. Rastus's peak popularity came in 1912 when it ranked #1,619. Use the chart and map above to compare Rastus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.