Rufus Boy

Popularity: #911 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROO-fus /ˈruːfəs/

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: red-haired; English: a name derived from Latin

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Rufus has its roots in Latin, derived from the word "rufus," meaning "red" or "reddish." This etymology likely referred to the hair color of individuals, a common practice in naming conventions across various cultures. The name entered the English language through Old French, where it was adopted as "Ruf," before evolving into its current form.

The transition from Latin to Old French and then to Middle English illustrates the linguistic shifts that occurred during the Norman Conquest and subsequent centuries, which significantly influenced the English lexicon. Historically, Rufus has been borne by notable figures, including the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus, commonly known as Domitian, who was referred to as Rufus due to his red hair.

In the Christian tradition, Saint Rufus is mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Epistle to the Romans, which dates to the first century. His mention in biblical texts has contributed to the name's significance within Christian communities, particularly during the early medieval period when saints' names were commonly adopted.

Culturally, the name Rufus has been associated with various symbolic meanings, particularly those related to strength and vitality, as the color red often symbolizes life and energy. The name has also appeared in literature and historical texts, reinforcing its presence in cultural narratives.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Rufe" have been used historically, reflecting the affectionate and familiar use of the name in various contexts. Overall, Rufus carries a rich historical and cultural legacy that has allowed it to endure through the centuries.

Famous people named Rufus

In this section, you will find notable people named Rufus. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rufus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Rufus who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Rufus Wainwright is a singer-songwriter best known for Want One, Poses, and Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.

Rufus Sewell is an actor best known for Dark City, A Knight's Tale, and The Man in the High Castle.

Rufus Thomas is a singer and songwriter best known for Walking the Dog, Do the Funky Chicken, and The Breakdown.

Fictional characters named Rufus

The following list of fictional characters named Rufus is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Rufus is a fictional character from the animated television series Kim Possible. He is a naked mole rat and the loyal pet and sidekick of the protagonist, Kim Possible.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rufus, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RubenRileyRonanRafaelRoccoRyder

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rufus. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

RoccoRyderRonanReubenRufinRufinoRufina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rufus was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Rufus has ranked as high as #424 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Rufus has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Rufus is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rufus was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rufus.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 27 27 0
2024 26 26 0
2023 19 19 0
2022 28 28 0
2021 25 25 0
2020 26 26 0
2019 30 30 0
2018 26 26 0
2017 36 36 0
2016 35 35 0
2015 43 43 0
2014 20 20 0
2013 44 44 0
2012 30 30 0
2011 40 40 0
2010 36 36 0
2009 24 24 0
2008 27 27 0
2007 29 29 0
2006 36 36 0
2005 34 34 0
2004 41 41 0
2003 28 28 0
2002 39 39 0
2001 34 34 0
2000 36 36 0
1999 43 43 0
1998 42 42 0
1997 47 47 0
1996 39 39 0
1995 44 44 0
1994 62 62 0
1993 55 55 0
1992 67 67 0
1991 78 78 0
1990 81 81 0
1989 78 78 0
1988 96 96 0
1987 97 97 0
1986 89 89 0
1985 125 125 0
1984 108 108 0
1983 120 120 0
1982 119 119 0
1981 139 139 0
1980 149 149 0
1979 134 134 0
1978 132 132 0
1977 142 142 0
1976 149 149 0
1975 147 147 0
1974 144 144 0
1973 164 164 0
1972 178 178 0
1971 196 196 0
1970 184 184 0
1969 206 206 0
1968 193 193 0
1967 232 232 0
1966 228 228 0
1965 233 228 5
1964 303 303 0
1963 301 301 0
1962 272 272 0
1961 335 330 5
1960 332 332 0
1959 358 358 0
1958 347 347 0
1957 415 410 5
1956 402 402 0
1955 412 406 6
1954 475 475 0
1953 449 449 0
1952 462 456 6
1951 450 445 5
1950 407 407 0
1949 504 498 6
1948 471 466 5
1947 489 489 0
1946 467 467 0
1945 412 412 0
1944 479 479 0
1943 483 483 0
1942 461 456 5
1941 457 457 0
1940 468 460 8
1939 430 430 0
1938 443 443 0
1937 479 479 0
1936 455 449 6
1935 461 461 0
1934 480 480 0
1933 477 477 0
1932 511 511 0
1931 488 482 6
1930 565 565 0
1929 571 566 5
1928 608 602 6
1927 697 690 7
1926 651 641 10
1925 683 676 7
1924 717 709 8
1923 678 678 0
1922 746 737 9
1921 721 721 0
1920 735 729 6
1919 682 677 5
1918 728 721 7
1917 646 646 0
1916 577 577 0
1915 595 588 7
1914 495 495 0
1913 416 410 6
1912 336 336 0
1911 230 230 0
1910 221 221 0
1909 206 206 0
1908 156 156 0
1907 175 175 0
1906 156 156 0
1905 157 157 0
1904 138 138 0
1903 134 134 0
1902 152 152 0
1901 121 121 0
1900 157 157 0
1899 127 127 0
1898 141 141 0
1897 124 124 0
1896 145 145 0
1895 135 135 0
1894 128 128 0
1893 139 139 0
1892 137 137 0
1891 107 107 0
1890 115 115 0
1889 108 108 0
1888 126 126 0
1887 119 119 0
1886 139 139 0
1885 118 118 0
1884 117 117 0
1883 125 125 0
1882 147 147 0
1881 121 121 0
1880 163 163 0

Top States for Rufus (2019)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
100%