Rufus
A male given name from Latin, used since the seventeenth century.
Every Rufus since 1880 — 36,225 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rufus
Rufus is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,019 in 2025 with 27 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 36,225 American babies have been named Rufus. Its peak came in 1922, when 746 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rufus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rufus year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 27 | #4,019 |
| 2024 | — | — | 26 | #4,170 |
| 2023 | — | — | 19 | #5,209 |
| 2022 | — | — | 28 | #3,971 |
| 2021 | — | — | 25 | #4,211 |
| 2020 | — | — | 26 | #4,005 |
| 2019 | — | — | 30 | #3,701 |
| 2018 | — | — | 26 | #4,082 |
| 2017 | — | — | 36 | #3,239 |
| 2016 | — | — | 35 | #3,281 |
| 2015 | — | — | 43 | #2,799 |
| 2014 | — | — | 20 | #4,828 |
| 2013 | — | — | 44 | #2,704 |
| 2012 | — | — | 30 | #3,610 |
| 2011 | — | — | 40 | #2,945 |
| 2010 | — | — | 36 | #3,171 |
| 2009 | — | — | 24 | #4,253 |
| 2008 | — | — | 27 | #3,902 |
| 2007 | — | — | 29 | #3,673 |
| 2006 | — | — | 36 | #3,073 |
| 2005 | — | — | 34 | #3,074 |
| 2004 | — | — | 41 | #2,630 |
| 2003 | — | — | 28 | #3,352 |
| 2002 | — | — | 39 | #2,543 |
| 2001 | — | — | 34 | #2,781 |
| 2000 | — | — | 36 | #2,611 |
| 1995 | — | — | 44 | #1,948 |
| 1990 | — | — | 81 | #1,223 |
| 1985 | — | — | 125 | #797 |
| 1980 | — | — | 149 | #713 |
| 1975 | — | — | 147 | #680 |
| 1970 | — | — | 184 | #599 |
| 1965 | 5 | #7,317 | 228 | #505 |
| 1960 | — | — | 332 | #441 |
| 1955 | 6 | #5,713 | 406 | #358 |
| 1950 | — | — | 407 | #334 |
| 1945 | — | — | 412 | #296 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,462 | 460 | #257 |
| 1935 | — | — | 461 | #250 |
| 1930 | — | — | 565 | #225 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4,371 | 676 | #207 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4,886 | 729 | #188 |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,736 | 588 | #188 |
| 1910 | — | — | 221 | #145 |
| 1905 | — | — | 157 | #139 |
| 1900 | — | — | 157 | #141 |
| 1895 | — | — | 135 | #124 |
| 1890 | — | — | 115 | #126 |
| 1885 | — | — | 118 | #117 |
| 1880 | — | — | 163 | #88 |
Famous people named Rufus
- Rufus Wainwright Musician · b. 1973
- Rufus of Ephesus Politician · b. 100
- Rufus Sewell Actor · b. 1967
- Rufus Thomas Singer · 1917–2001
- Rufus Wilmot Griswold Writer · 1815–1857
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rufus mean?
A male given name from Latin, used since the seventeenth century.
How popular is the name Rufus in 2025?
Rufus ranked #4,019 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 27 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rufus?
36,225 babies have been named Rufus in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rufus most popular?
Rufus peaked in 1922, when 746 newborns received the name.
Is Rufus a boy or girl name?
Rufus is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rufus rising or falling?
Rufus is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rufus?
Well-known people named Rufus include Rufus Wainwright (musician), Rufus of Ephesus (politician), Rufus Sewell (actor).