A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Russel since 1880
Babies named Russel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Russel's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 73 |
| 1890s | 222 |
| 1900s | 352 |
| 1910s | 2,181 |
| 1920s | 3,288 |
| 1930s | 1,835 |
| 1940s | 1,741 |
| 1950s | 1,802 |
| 1960s | 1,729 |
| 1970s | 1,168 |
| 1980s | 914 |
| 1990s | 550 |
| 2000s | 355 |
| 2010s | 261 |
| 2020s | 139 |
Meaning & origin
Russel, a spelling variant of Russell, is a name with a long but niche history. First recorded in U.S. data in 1880, it reached its peak rank of #3949 in 1913, when a handful of parents chose the name. Since 2015, it has been on a slow upward trajectory. In 2025, it remained rare, with approximately 1 in 63,262 newborns receiving the name. The name's top states show no strong regional concentration. While never common, Russel persists as a subtle alternative to the more familiar Russell, offering a streamlined spelling without changing the pronunciation.
Russel is a variant spelling of Russell, which originated as a Norman French nickname for someone with red hair, from 'rous' meaning 'red'. The name was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest and became established as both a surname and given name. It has also been used as a diminutive of the Slavic name Rostislav. In some cases, Russel may be a modern spelling variant resulting from simplification.
Where Russel 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: Russ, Rusty
Variants: Russell
Sibling names for Russel
Names that share Russel's style, for a brother or sister.
