The first name Rui
A boy’s name from Japanese.
1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Japanese origin
A male given name from Japanese.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 18 boys were named Rui, making it the 1,466th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2004, with 25 births (#841).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rui with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rui at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 49 boys born in the United States were named Rui, the 2,672nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 62 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Rui
16 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Hai RuiChinese politician (1514-1587)
- Li RuiChinese politician (1917–2019)
- Rui CamposBrazilian footballer (1922–2002)
- Rui ModestoAngolan footballer, born 1999
- Rui da Gracia GomesAssociation football player, born 1985
- Liang RuiChinese racewalker, born 1994
- Wang RuiChinese female curler, born 1995
- Rui AndradeAngolan racing driver, born 1999
- Rui PiresAssociation football player, born 1998
- Rui CostaBrazilian politician, born 1963
- Rui GomesAssociation football player, born 1997
- Rui NascimentoBrazilian volleyball player, born 1960
More Japanese boys’ names
Questions
- What is the origin of the name Rui?
- Rui comes from Japanese.
- How popular is the name Rui?
- In 2025, 18 boys born in England and Wales were named Rui, ranking 1,466th. Its peak was 2004, with 25 births.
- Is Rui a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 972 US babies named Rui since 1880, 9% were girls and 91% boys.
- When was Rui most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 62 babies were named Rui, its highest rank at 2,307th.