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Russ

♂ Boy

Pronounced RUSS /ˈrʌs/High

Meaning: A pet form of Russell — from Old French rous, 'red, red-haired' (a diminutive, 'little red one')Medium

In 30 seconds: Red-haired; little red one: Russ pets Russell — 'red-haired'. Crisp, vintage, and warm.

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Origin MediumFrench, Latin

MeaningA pet form of Russell — from Old French rous, 'red, red-haired' (a diminutive, 'little red one')

U.S. rank (2025)#5008 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births20 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,131

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

Russ is a pet form of Russell — from Old French rous, 'red, red-haired', a diminutive, 'little red one'. A crisp, vintage nickname-name (the full name is Russell; nickname Russ).

In the U.S. it appears beside Russell. Rare on its own, red-haired at the root, and vintage.

Did you know? Russell means 'red, red-haired; little red one' (Old French rous) — Russ is its crisp short form, vintage and warm (said 'RUSS').

Overall data confidence 60%

Behind the Name — Russell — root etymology

Variations

RussellRusRuss

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Russ…

Russell— the full name

Gus— a sound-neighbor short vintage boys' name

Wes— a fellow short boys' name

Cliff— another short vintage boys' name

Explore names like Russ

By themelatin french nickname-name

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Russ mean?

Russ pets Russell — Old French 'red, red-haired; little red one'.

How do you pronounce Russ?

It's said RUSS /ˈrʌs/ — one syllable.

Is Russ a boy or girl name?

Russ is a boy's name.

How popular is Russ?

Russ is a rare name in the U.S. today.