The first name Russell
A boy’s name from Norman.
Pronounced /ˈɹʌsəl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Norman origin
Inherited from Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel. Doublet of Rousseau/Roussel. Equivalent to russel.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 32 boys were named Russell, making it the 953rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 111 births (#257).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Russell with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Russell at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 944 boys born in the United States were named Russell, the 345th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1960, when 7,487 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.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Russell
132 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Russell A. HulseAmerican astronomer, born 1950
- Russell WestbrookAmerican basketball player (born 1988)
- James Russell LowellAmerican poet, critic, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
- John Russell HindEnglish astronomer, 1823–1895
- Russell ToveyBritish actor, born 1981
- Taylor RussellCanadian actress, born 1994
- Leon RussellAmerican singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and session musician, 1942–2016
- Russell PetersCanadian comedian, actor, born 1970
- Russell KirkAmerican political theorist, moralist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and writ, 1918–1994
- Russell MulcahyAustralian film director, born 1953
- Russell WongAmerican actor (born 1963)
- Frederick Russell BurnhamFather of scouting; military scout; soldier of fortune; oil man; writer; rancher (1861–194
Questions
- What does the name Russell mean?
- Inherited from Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel. Doublet of Rousseau/Roussel. Equivalent to russel.
- What is the origin of the name Russell?
- Inherited from Middle English Russel, from Anglo-Norman Russel. Doublet of Rousseau/Roussel. Equivalent to russel.
- How popular is the name Russell?
- In 2025, 32 boys born in England and Wales were named Russell, ranking 953rd. Its peak was 1996, with 111 births.
- What are nicknames for Russell?
- Common nicknames for Russell include Russ.
- Is Russell a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 361,476 US babies named Russell since 1880 were boys.
- When was Russell most popular?
- 1960 in the United States, when 7,487 babies were named Russell, its highest rank at 56th.
- How do you pronounce Russell?
- Russell is /ˈɹʌsəl/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Russell?
- Roussel, Rowsell and Russel.
- Is Russell also a surname?
- Yes. Russell is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.