Russel
Meaninglittle red one · English form of Russell
- US rank
- #3,949
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #282 in 1913
27 babies were named Russel in the US in 2025. It has dropped 215 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Russel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 63,291 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Russel, 27 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Russel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRussel has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Russels, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1913, when it ranked #282. Today it's #3,949, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendRussel has slipped 215 places over the last five years and now sits at #3,949. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningRussel is an English form of Russell, which means “little red one”. Our records link it to French and Latin roots.
About the name Russel
Russel is a boy name of French and Latin origin meaning “little red one”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-sel”. US birth records list Russel for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked #282 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #3,949, with 27 babies.
Origin:French namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 66 | 15,044 boys |
| 1890s | 195 | 5,131 boys |
| 1900s | 259 | 3,859 boys |
| 1910s | 323 | 3,094 boys |
| 1920s | 299 | 3,349 boys |
| 1930s | 174 | 5,745 boys |
| 1940s | 118 | 8,467 boys |
| 1950s | 89 | 11,221 boys |
| 1960s | 90 | 11,169 boys |
| 1970s | 71 | 14,178 boys |
| 1980s | 50 | 20,109 boys |
| 1990s | 28 | 35,613 boys |
| 2000s | 18 | 56,148 boys |
| 2010s | 14 | 71,942 boys |
| 2020s | 13 | 74,627 boys |
Other spellings of Russel
More French boy names
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Daniel · God is my judge
- Unisex name: Gabriel · God is my strength
- Unisex name: Wyatt · brave in war
- Boy name: Charles · free man
- Unisex name: Beau · handsome
- Boy name: Robert · bright fame
Questions about the name Russel
What does the name Russel mean?
Russel means “little red one” in English, as a form of Russell.
What is the origin of the name Russel?
Russel has French, Latin roots in our records. Other French names include Sebastian, Leo, Daniel.
Is Russel a boy or girl name?
Russel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Russel?
Russel ranked #3,949 for US boys in 2025, given to 27 babies. Its best year was 1913 (#282).