Russel
Boy name · #3957 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Russel? In official American birth records, Russel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Russel ranks #3957 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 27 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #4711, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Russel.
Babies named Russel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Russel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 389 boys were named Russel — good for #283 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Russel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Russel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Russel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Russel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Russel is most common
State-level data for Russel 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 Russel
Statistically, parents drawn to Russel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rufus, Herschel, Rudolph, Rueben, and Wilbur.
RufusHerschelRudolphRuebenWilburRupertLowellWilfred
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Russel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 23 | #4433 |
| 2023 | 14 | #6220 |
| 2022 | 22 | #4570 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 28 | #3734 |
| 2019 | 30 | #3636 |
| 2018 | 30 | #3607 |
| 2017 | 30 | #3586 |
| 2016 | 20 | #4776 |
| 2015 | 20 | #4711 |
| 2014 | 18 | #5066 |
| 2013 | 27 | #3753 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3807 |
| 2011 | 20 | #4659 |
| 2010 | 39 | #2958 |
| 2009 | 31 | #3476 |
| 2008 | 30 | #3561 |
| 2007 | 29 | #3591 |
| 2006 | 40 | #2832 |
| 2005 | 35 | #2960 |
| 2004 | 33 | #3014 |
| 2003 | 37 | #2674 |
| 2002 | 47 | #2224 |
| 2001 | 37 | #2562 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Russel?
In official American birth records, the name Russel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Russel a popular boy name?
Russel ranked #3957 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4711.
When was the name Russel most popular?
Russel peaked in 1920, when 389 American boys received the name (ranked #283 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Russel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Russel. 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.