Rufus

Last seen for girls in 1965 at #6,539 · #3,949 for boys in 2025, 27 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1880 · 163 births
Debut · boys
163 births
In top 100 · boys
2 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
36,074
since 1880

Rufus over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201955peak #88, 1880boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#3,94927
2024—#4,07226
2023—#5,07519
2022—#3,87928
2021—#4,11825
2020—#3,91826
2019—#3,63630
2018—#3,99326
2017—#3,19336
2016—#3,23035
2015—#2,76643
2014—#4,70220
2013—#2,66844
2012—#3,53030
2011—#2,90440
2010—#3,12836
2009—#4,16024
2008—#3,82327
2007—#3,59129
2006—#3,02436
2005—#3,02234
2004—#2,59941
2003—#3,28028
2002—#2,50439
2001—#2,74234
2000—#2,57836
1999—#2,16243
1998—#2,15742
1997—#1,93347
1996—#2,14539
1995—#1,91444
1994—#1,51662
1993—#1,62055
1992—#1,38267
1991—#1,26478
1990—#1,21681
1989—#1,21478
1988—#98796
1987—#95497
1986—#97189
1985—#795125
1984—#843108
1983—#800120
1982—#809119
1981—#735139
1980—#712149
1979—#747134
1978—#732132
1977—#714142
1976—#674149
1975—#678147
1974—#677144
1973—#616164
1972—#599178
1971—#587196
1970—#596184
1969—#546206
1968—#544193
1967—#492232
1966—#501228
1965#6,5395#505228
1964—#455303
1963—#456301
1962—#481272
1961#6,5675#441330
1960—#441332
1959—#418358
1958—#423347
1957#6,0865#380410
1956—#368402
1955#5,2086#358406
1954—#332475
1953—#332449
1952#4,9086#325456
1951#5,4145#325445
1950—#334407
1949#4,6736#303498
1948#5,2435#313466
1947—#315489
1946—#300467
1945—#296412
1944—#271479
1943—#278483
1942#4,6225#281456
1941—#260457
1940#3,2088#257460
1939—#260430
1938—#261443
1937—#241479
1936#3,7016#248449
1935—#250461
1934—#238480
1933—#238477
1932—#236511
1931#3,8486#239482
1930—#225565
1929#4,5705#225566
1928#4,1956#218602
1927#3,8757#204690
1926#3,04610#214641
1925#4,0287#207676
1924#3,6658#197709
1923—#199678
1922#3,3799#188737
1921—#191721
1920#4,3986#188729
1919#4,8145#190677
1918#3,8697#183721
1917—#187646
1916—#197577
1915#3,4347#188588
1914—#178495
1913#2,8276#169410
1912—#175336
1911—#146230
1910—#145221
1909—#131206
1908—#151156
1907—#137175
1906—#132156
1905—#138157
1904—#143138
1903—#139134
1902—#126152
1901—#137121
1900—#140157
1899—#125127
1898—#131141
1897—#131124
1896—#120145
1895—#124135
1894—#123128
1893—#117139
1892—#123137
1891—#128107
1890—#126115
1889—#132108
1888—#125126
1887—#113119
1886—#112139
1885—#116118
1884—#123117
1883—#105125
1882—#98147
1881—#104121
1880—#88163
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Rufus was already there! It came in at #88, and was given to 163 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2020–2025, when fewer than 29 boys a year got the name.

Where Rufus is popular in 1955

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedMNIllinois: #466 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 10,788 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedWIMichigan: #444 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 10,655 boysMINew York: #527 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 14,521 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedIAIndiana: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedINOhio: #444 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 11,028 boysOHPennsylvania: #475 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 15,058 boysPANew Jersey: #348 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 8,223 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #757 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 22,629 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedNEMissouri: #337 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 5,228 boysMOKentucky: #276 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 3,045 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedWVVirginia: #208 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,607 boysVAMaryland: #292 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,813 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedKSArkansas: #281 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,508 boysARTennessee: #253 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,418 boysTNNorth Carolina: #231 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,828 boysNCSouth Carolina: #144 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 803 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #265 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,938 boysLAMississippi: #190 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,314 boysMSAlabama: #200 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,389 boysALGeorgia: #170 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 1,066 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Rufus, so not publishedHITexas: #436 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 4,652 boysTXFlorida: #235 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,956 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Carolina#144 · 1 in 803
  2. Georgia#170 · 1 in 1,066
  3. Mississippi#190 · 1 in 1,314
  4. Alabama#200 · 1 in 1,389
  5. Virginia#208 · 1 in 1,607

Best ever in a state: #43 in Alabama, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Carolina#144381 in 803
Georgia#170461 in 1,066
Mississippi#190221 in 1,314
Alabama#200281 in 1,389
Virginia#208271 in 1,607
North Carolina#231301 in 1,828
Florida#235221 in 1,956
Tennessee#253171 in 2,418
Louisiana#265211 in 1,938
Kentucky#276121 in 3,045
Arkansas#28181 in 2,508
Maryland#29281 in 3,813
Missouri#33791 in 5,228
New Jersey#34871 in 8,223
Texas#436261 in 4,652
Michigan#44491 in 10,655
Ohio#444101 in 11,028
Illinois#466101 in 10,788
Pennsylvania#47581 in 15,058
New York#527121 in 14,521
California#75771 in 22,629
Alaska———
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Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
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North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Rufus
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 123 spots since 2024 (#4,072 → #3,949)
  • 31 spots since 2020 (#3,918 → #3,949)
  • 1,183 spots since 2015 (#2,766 → #3,949)
  • Biggest jump: 48 spots in 1985 (#843 → #795)
  • Biggest drop: 227 spots in 1989 (#987 → #1,214)
Rise & fade · boys
Peaked on debut
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1880 at #88 (163 births)
  • Births halved by 1989, 109 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 2 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 2 yrs · 1880–1882
  • Top 1,000: 109 yrs · run 1880–1988
Share of babies · boys
1 in 678
  • Highest: 1 in 678 boys born in 1880 were named Rufus (0.15%)
  • Latest: 1 in 63,262 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 18.7% of all boys named Rufus (6,749) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,283#88 (1880)#112
1890s1,298#117 (1893)#125
1900s1,552#126 (1902)#137
1910s4,901#145 (1910)#176
1920s6,749#188 (1922)#203
1930s4,777#225 (1930)#244
1940s4,667#257 (1940)#287
1950s4,155#325 (1952)#360
1960s2,625#441 (1960)#486
1970s1,570#587 (1971)#662
1980s1,120#712 (1980)#882
1990s558#1,216 (1990)#1,731
2000s328#2,504 (2002)#3,132
2010s340#2,668 (2013)#3,375
2020s151#3,879 (2022)#4,169

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Rufus in 1955

girls
#5,208
6 births · 1 in 325,880 girls
boys
#358
406 births · 1 in 5,074 boys

Top girls' names in 1955

  1. #1Mary63,174
  2. #2Deborah52,318
  3. #3Linda51,300
  4. #4Debra50,563
  5. #5Susan47,418
  6. #6Patricia46,226
  7. #7Barbara33,617
  8. #8Karen33,217
  9. #9Nancy30,023
  10. #10Donna27,940
  11. #5,208Rufus6

Top boys' names in 1955

  1. #1Michael88,355
  2. #2David86,306
  3. #3James84,186
  4. #4Robert83,758
  5. #5John80,128
  6. #6William59,990
  7. #7Richard53,566
  8. #8Thomas45,855
  9. #9Mark42,255
  10. #10Steven37,847
  11. #358Rufus406
More about 1955

girls

1,955,277 girls got a published name in 1955; 1 in 325,880 of them was named Rufus, which outranked 22.6% of the 6,732 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rufus
  1. #4,740Zelpha7
  2. #4,740Zeta7
  3. #4,740Zully7
  4. #5,208Rufus6
  5. #5,208Abra6
  6. #5,208Adah6
  7. #5,208Adonica6
  8. #5,828Abagail5
  9. #5,828Abelina5
  10. #5,828Adalene5

Tied with 619 names at #5,208; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1954
Risers
  1. ↑ 793Athena#1,505 → #712
  2. ↑ 675Desiree#984 → #309
  3. ↑ 661Roni#1,197 → #536
  4. ↑ 630Gisele#1,444 → #814
  5. ↑ 593Carmel#1,422 → #829
Fallers
  1. ↓ 514Valinda#806 → #1,320
  2. ↓ 378Elouise#969 → #1,347
  3. ↓ 287Veda#831 → #1,118
  4. ↓ 275Drema#978 → #1,253
  5. ↓ 264Brooke#965 → #1,229

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,059,889 boys got a published name in 1955; 1 in 5,074 of them was named Rufus, which outranked 91.9% of the 4,400 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Rufus
  1. #355Homer412
  2. #356Dexter411
  3. #357Arturo410
  4. #358Rufus406
  5. #359Bert405
  6. #360Kyle404
  7. #361Carroll403
Biggest movers since 1954
Risers
  1. ↑ 808Davy#1,333 → #525
  2. ↑ 326Wyatt#985 → #659
  3. ↑ 323Moises#1,311 → #988
  4. ↑ 296Tad#1,068 → #772
  5. ↑ 286Rhett#1,122 → #836
Fallers
  1. ↓ 738Rahn#908 → #1,646
  2. ↓ 415Ricci#739 → #1,154
  3. ↓ 321Meredith#952 → #1,273
  4. ↓ 309Michial#985 → #1,294
  5. ↓ 282Arvin#973 → #1,255

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1955 →