How to say it
RUS · sell
ˈrʌs.əl
Masculine
Russell
Little red one
What it means
A Norman French surname, 'little red one,' originally a nickname for someone red-haired or ruddy.
Russell began as the Norman French roussel, 'little red one,' a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person. It settled into a surname and then a steady first name, behind figures from philosopher Bertrand Russell to actor Russell Crowe. It reads solid and mid-century friendly, and it gives the easy shorts Russ and Rusty. Plain, warm, and dependable.
How to spell Russell
The standard spelling is Russell. Common variants include Russel, Roussel, but Russell is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #48 in 1904, currently #345 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Russ and Rusty are the standard shorts.
- Spelling
Originally a 'red-haired' Norman nickname.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Bertrand Russell British philosopher and Nobel laureate
- Russell Crowe actor, the lead of Gladiator
Spelling variants
- Russel
- Roussel
Names with the same feeling
See Russell from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Russell mean?
- A Norman French surname, 'little red one,' originally a nickname for someone red-haired or ruddy.
- What does Russell mean in Norman French?
- In Norman French, Russell means "Little red one." Russell began as the Norman French roussel, 'little red one,' a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy person. It settled into a surname and then a steady first name, behind figures from philosopher Bertrand Russell to actor Russell Crowe. It reads solid and mid-century friendly, and it gives the easy shorts Russ and Rusty. Plain, warm, and dependable.
- How do you pronounce Russell?
- Russell is pronounced ˈrʌs.əl. Say it as RUS-sell, with the stress on the "rus" syllable.
- How do you spell Russell?
- The standard spelling is Russell. Common spelling variants include Russel, Roussel.
- Is Russell a boy or girl name?
- Russell is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Russell?
- Russell ranked #345 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.