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Rui
♂ Boy
Pronounced ROO-ee /ˈruː.i/High
Meaning: famous rulerMedium
In 30 seconds: Rui is a Portuguese short form of Rodrigo meaning famous ruler. A short two-syllable name with Portuguese heritage.
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Origin HighPortuguese
Meaningfamous ruler
U.S. rank (2025)#2672 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births49 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 887
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Rui is a Portuguese short form of Rodrigo, from Germanic hroth (fame) + ric (ruler), meaning famous ruler.
Rui is widely used in Portugal, Brazil, and Portuguese-speaking communities.
Did you know? The name Rodrigo was borne by Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid, the greatest hero of medieval Spain, making Rui's root one of the most storied names in Iberian history.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name: Rui — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data
Variations
RodrigoRuy
Nicknames
Ru
Famous Bearers
- ★Rui Veloso (1957–present)Portuguese singer-songwriter known as the father of Portuguese rock.
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Frequently Asked
What does Rui mean?
Rui means famous ruler.
How do you pronounce Rui?
Rui is pronounced ROO-ee (/ˈruː.i/), with 2 syllables.
Is Rui a boy's name?
Yes, Rui is used as a boy's name.
How popular is the name Rui?
Portuguese short form of Rodrigo; famous ruler meaning via hroth+ric well established.