Rufus: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “red-haired”
- Origin
- Latin
- Say it
- ROO-fuhs · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys
Ancient Roman cognomen from Latin rufus, 'red' or 'red-haired'. It later passed into use as an English given name.
How popular is Rufus?
Babies named Rufus in 202426
2024 rank#4,056 boys
Peak year1880
Total US babies since 188036,196
Rufus is steady now but far below its 1880 peak.
Names like Rufus
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Rufus questions
What does the name Rufus mean?
Rufus means "red-haired". It comes from Latin. Ancient Roman cognomen from Latin rufus, 'red' or 'red-haired'. It later passed into use as an English given name.
Is Rufus a boy or girl name?
Rufus is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Rufus?
26 US babies were named Rufus in 2024. Its peak year was 1880.
How do you pronounce Rufus?
Rufus is usually pronounced ROO-fuhs.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.