Declining since 2013, #1,942 for boys today.
Popularity of Justus since 1880
Babies named Justus per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 37 |
| 1890s | 0 | 15 |
| 1900s | 0 | 20 |
| 1910s | 0 | 196 |
| 1920s | 0 | 207 |
| 1930s | 0 | 113 |
| 1940s | 0 | 106 |
| 1950s | 0 | 84 |
| 1960s | 0 | 65 |
| 1970s | 5 | 268 |
| 1980s | 0 | 396 |
| 1990s | 190 | 1,652 |
| 2000s | 319 | 2,734 |
| 2010s | 231 | 2,449 |
| 2020s | 73 | 798 |
Meaning & origin
Justus is a Latin name meaning 'just' or 'righteous', with roots in early Christian saintly tradition. After a peak in 2012 (rank #1942 with a 1-in-21,621 rate in 2025), its trajectory has been falling since 2013, reflecting a broader shift away from virtue names. The name is most concentrated in Virginia, Georgia, and Florida, states with strong historical ties to classical naming traditions.
Justus derives from the Latin word 'iustus', meaning 'just' or 'righteous'. It was used as a cognomen in ancient Rome and later adopted as a given name by early Christians in honor of various saints, including a 1st-century bishop of Canterbury. The name has been in occasional use in English-speaking countries since the Protestant Reformation, particularly among Puritans who favored virtue names.
Where Justus is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jus, Jussy
Variants: Giusto, Juste, Iustus
Sibling names for Justus
Names that share Justus's style, for a brother or sister.
