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Gussie
How to Pronounce Gussie
Pronounced GUSS-ee /ΛΙ‘Κs.i/Medium
Meaning: Gussie is an affectionate short form of Augustus (or Gustavus/Gustave), from Latin augustus, 'great, majestic, venerable'. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries American families recorded the nickname itself as a given name for boys.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Gussie clips Augustus (and Gustavus), all from Latin augustus, 'great' or 'venerable', a title of the Roman emperors. Like Freddie or Ollie, it was a nickname families of the era often set down as the legal first name.
For boys it peaked faintly in the early twentieth century around 1922 and faded by mid-century as formal Augustus itself thinned out. Only a few dozen boys a year ever bore it.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Gussie mean?
Gussie is an affectionate short form of Augustus, from Latin augustus meaning 'great, venerable'.
How do you pronounce Gussie?
It's said GUSS-ee /ΛΙ‘Κs.i/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Gussie a boy or girl name?
Gussie appears here as a boy's name; the same nickname was also used for girls named Augusta.
How popular is Gussie?
Gussie has always been rare in the U.S., a vintage pet-name most seen in the early twentieth century.