Russ
Russ is a masculine given name, often a short form of Russell, and also a surname.
Meaning & Origin of Russ
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Russ is a masculine given name, often a short form of Russell, and also a surname.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Russ
Russ first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1898, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1959, when 350 Russs were born — ranking #427 that year. As of 2026, Russ ranks #5,777 for baby boys with 16 births, rising sharply (+35% over the past five years). In total, more than 6K Russs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Russ
Phonetically similar names — useful when Russ is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Russ
What does the name Russ mean?
How popular is Russ in 2026?
When was Russ most popular?
In which U.S. states is Russ most popular?
Is Russ a unisex name?
What names go well with Russ?
About the name Russ
Russ is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1898 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Russ's peak popularity came in 1959 when it ranked #427. Use the chart and map above to compare Russ's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1959 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.