Rufus
Boy name · #3949 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rufus? In official American birth records, Rufus has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Rufus ranks #3949 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 27 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2766, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Rufus.
The 145-year story
Rufus first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 163 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1922, when 737 boys were named Rufus — good for #188 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rufus per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rufus against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rufus in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rufus is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rufus will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rufus is most common
State-level data for Rufus is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Rufus
Statistically, parents drawn to Rufus tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Russel, Rudolph, Willis, Merle, and Wilbur.
RusselRudolphWillisMerleWilburHubertRuebenRupert
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rufus | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 26 | #4072 |
| 2023 | 19 | #5075 |
| 2022 | 28 | #3879 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 26 | #3918 |
| 2019 | 30 | #3636 |
| 2018 | 26 | #3993 |
| 2017 | 36 | #3193 |
| 2016 | 35 | #3230 |
| 2015 | 43 | #2766 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4702 |
| 2013 | 44 | #2668 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3530 |
| 2011 | 40 | #2904 |
| 2010 | 36 | #3128 |
| 2009 | 24 | #4160 |
| 2008 | 27 | #3823 |
| 2007 | 29 | #3591 |
| 2006 | 36 | #3024 |
| 2005 | 34 | #3022 |
| 2004 | 41 | #2599 |
| 2003 | 28 | #3280 |
| 2002 | 39 | #2504 |
| 2001 | 34 | #2742 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rufus?
In official American birth records, the name Rufus first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 163 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rufus a popular boy name?
Rufus ranked #3949 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2766.
When was the name Rufus most popular?
Rufus peaked in 1922, when 737 American boys received the name (ranked #188 that year). Since 1922 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rufus?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Rufus. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.