Rufus
Rufus is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “red-haired.” Rufus is a Latin cognomen meaning 'red-haired' or 'ruddy.'
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how do you pronounce Rufus?
ROO-fus
where does the name Rufus come from?
A Latin word for red, used as a Roman cognomen for a red-haired person.
It was common among the Romans and early Christians — Simon of Cyrene's son was named Rufus in Mark's Gospel. William Rufus was an English king. The name has a friendly, warm energy with historical depth, popular among creative and musical families.
how popular is this name?
Rufus has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 109 years since 1880. It peaked at #88 in 1880, and ranked #987 in 1988.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1988 | #987 |
| 1987 | #954 |
| 1986 | #971 |
| 1985 | #795 |
| 1984 | #843 |
| 1983 | #800 |
| 1982 | #809 |
| 1981 | #735 |
| 1980 | #712 |
| 1979 | #747 |
| 1970 | #596 |
| 1960 | #441 |
| 1950 | #334 |
| 1940 | #257 |
| 1930 | #225 |
| 1920 | #188 |
| 1910 | #145 |
| 1900 | #140 |
| 1890 | #126 |
| 1880 | #88 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Rufus fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Rufus
It survives as a given name, surname and nickname; William II of England was known as William Rufus.
who are famous people named Rufus?
- Rufus Wainwright (Canadian-American singer-songwriter)
- William Rufus (William II of England)
what names are similar to Rufus?
what names go well with Rufus?
Sibling names that share Rufus's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Rufus
What does the name Rufus mean?
Rufus means “red-haired”.
What is the origin of the name Rufus?
Rufus comes from the Latin naming tradition.
How popular is the name Rufus?
Rufus ranked #987 in the US in 1988, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #88, and it has spent 109 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Rufus a boy or girl name?
Rufus is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Rufus?
Rufus is pronounced ROO-fus, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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