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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rusty

Rusty

♀ Girl

Pronounced RUS-tee /ˈrʌs.ti/High

Meaning: A friendly nickname name for someone with red or reddish-brown ('rusty') hair; also a short form of Russell. Used here for a girl though it leans to boys.Low

In 30 seconds: A warm nickname name: Rusty nods to red hair (said 'RUS-tee'). Usually a boy's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningA friendly nickname name for someone with red or reddish-brown ('rusty') hair; also a short form of Russell. Used here for a girl though it leans to boys.
U.S. rank (2024)#11922 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1979
Total births (all-time)≈ 565

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197919342024

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

Rusty is a nickname name for red-haired folk and a short form of Russell. Warm and folksy, it reads mostly boy or unisex; as a girl's name it is rare, which we note (said 'RUS-tee').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, folksy, and warm.

Did you know? Rusty began as a nickname for red or reddish-brown ('rusty') hair, and as a short form of Russell — a friendly, folksy name used here for a girl, though it leans to boys, which we note (said 'RUS-tee').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Rusty — nickname for red hair / short for Russell; boy-leaning

Variations

RustieRussRusti

Nicknames

RussRus

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rusty…

Scout— a like tomboyish nickname name
Frankie— a like friendly unisex pick
Sunny— a like warm nickname name
Betty— another English name
Katy— echoes that soft -ty sound

Explore names like Rusty

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rusty mean?

Rusty is a nickname for red or reddish-brown hair, and a short form of Russell.

How do you pronounce Rusty?

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

Is Rusty a boy or girl name?

Rusty is used for both, but more often for boys — we note the lean.

How popular is Rusty?

Rusty is rare for girls in the U.S.

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