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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rustin

Rustin

♂ Boy

Pronounced RUS-tin /ˈrʌs.tɪn/High

Meaning: Red-haired; from the Rust family; variant of Ruston/Riston, from Old English hris (brushwood) + tun (settlement), or a surname variant of RustonMedium

In 30 seconds: A modern variant of Ruston or Riston meaning 'brushwood settlement,' or connected to the surname Rust (red-haired). Associated with civil rights activist Bayard Rustin — a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Germanic
MeaningRed-haired; from the Rust family; variant of Ruston/Riston, from Old English hris (brushwood) + tun (settlement), or a surname variant of Ruston
U.S. rank (2025)#2280 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births62 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1979
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,902

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197919492025

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

Rustin is a variant of Ruston (Old English brushwood settlement) or connected to the surname Rust (from red-haired). As a given name it honors civil rights activist Bayard Rustin (1912–1987), the brilliant organizer whose role in the March on Washington was belatedly recognized.

Rustin ranked #2461 for boys in 2024. Its use may reflect tribute naming honoring Bayard Rustin.

Did you know? Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) organized the logistics of the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 'I Have a Dream' — one of the most complex large-scale events in American history, bringing 250,000 people to Washington D.C. in 1963. Rustin's role was largely hidden from public view for decades due to his sexuality.
Overall data confidence 74%
U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RustonRust

Nicknames

Rus

Famous Bearers

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If you like Rustin…

Ruston— the standard -ton spelling of the same place-name origin
Dustin— two-syllable -in ending name with the same rugged feel
Justin— two-syllable -in ending name with the same American confidence
Austin— two-syllable place-name with the same American Western heritage
Tristan— two-syllable -in ending literary name with the same bold character

Explore names like Rustin

By themeenglishtwo-syllablegermanictribute-name
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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rustin mean?

Rustin possibly means 'brushwood settlement' from Old English, or relates to the surname Rust (red-haired). As a given name it honors civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin.

How do you pronounce Rustin?

It's said RUS-tin /ˈrʌs.tɪn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rustin a boy or girl name?

Rustin is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Rustin?

Rustin ranked #2461 for U.S. boys in 2024.

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