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The short answer
Russell is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From the English surname Russell, of Norman origin, meaning ‘little red one’ (a diminutive of Old French rous ‘red’). A notable bearer of the surname was the agnostic British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), who wrote on many subjects including logic, epistemology and mathematics." It ranked #345 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from the English surname Russell, of Norman origin, meaning ‘little red one’ (a diminutive of Old French rous ‘red’). A notable bearer of the surname was the agnostic British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), who wrote on many subjects including logic, epistemology and mathematics. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Russell ranked #345 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #345 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Russell in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Russell mean?
Russell means "little red one", according to Behind the Name.
Is Russell a popular name?
Russell ranked #345 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Russell a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Russell appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Russell — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
