The baby name Rufus blends ancient roots with a homespun sensibility.
Thanks to Marie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME RUFUS MEAN?
The name first appears in Ancient Rome, where it probably started out as a name for a redhead.
In Latin, rufus referred to the color red, especially red hair. It is ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root reudh, the origin of our words red and ruddy.
Plenty of Rufuses appear in the historical record from 100 BC to 400 AD, including a physician remembered for his writings on anatomy, poets, politicians, military generals and at least nine early saints.
One saintly Rufus is mentioned in the New Testament.
WILLIAM RUFUS
The name fell out of favor by the early Middle Ages.
But wait – what about the eleventh century king?
We often refer to King William II as William Rufus.
It’s not a middle name, though. Instead, Rufus is his nickname. Possibly the medieval king has red hair or maybe it referenced his flushed red face, as legend has it that the king had quite a temper.
The baby name Rufus had some history of use during the Middle Ages, but it seems to have been quite rare.
Following the Protestant Reformation, as parents turned to the Bible rather than saints’ names for their sons, Rufus appears to have increased in use slightly.
THE SURNAME RUFUS
Rufus is also heard as a last name.
It could simply be from the personal name Rufus. Or maybe it means redhead, but filtered through another language or nickname.
English surnames like Ruff and Rough were also given to mean known for shaggy hair.
There are a few other theories, but a great many of them lead back to the color red, just like the given name.
MANY RANDOM RUFUSES
We tend to choose Rufus for offbeat characters with an indie vibe. Here’s a short list:
- Groucho Marx answered to Rufus T. Firefly in 1933’s Duck Soup.
- George Carlin played a time-traveling Rufus in 1989’s Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
- Rufus, the thirteenth apostle, played by Chris Rock in the 1999 movie Dogma.
- In Kill Bill, Vol. 2, Samuel L. Jackson appears as Rufus, the wedding chapel organist.
- Television’s Gossip Girl included not-quite-rock-star dad Rufus Humphrey.
Singer James Taylor welcomed a son named Rufus in 2001.
English actor Rufus Sewell played the bad guy in A Knight’s Tale in 2001. He’s currently starring opposite Keri Russell in Netflix’s The Diplomat. In between, he’s enjoyed a long and varied career.
Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright might not be a household name, but he’s gained a cult following since he launched his career in the 1990s. Even if you’ve never heard of him, you’ve probably heard his music – he’s contributed tracks to movies from Shrek to Brokeback Mountain.
JRR Tolkien gave the name to a minor Hobbit, and there’s a Harry Potter character called Rufus Scrimgeour, too.
Next add in an animated cat in Disney’s The Rescuers, a dog in the Chalet School series of books, and a naked mole rat who took part in Kim Possible’s adventures on the Disney Channel.
Yup, quirky is Rufus’ calling card.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME RUFUS?
1880 marks the very first year for which the US Social Security Administration publishes popularity data.
Back then, the baby name Rufus ranked in the US Top 100.
It has consistently declined since then, leaving the Top 200 in the 1920s, exiting the Top 500 in the 1960s, and departing the Top 1000 rankings entirely after 1988.
As of 2023, just 19 boys were named Rufus. That’s the lowest number – ever, at least since data was first reported.
It’s possible that the baby name Rufus is headed for extinction.
READY FOR REVIVAL
Despite those numbers, there are reasons to think Rufus might be revival-ready.
Parents like ancient names, especially ones ending with S. There’s plenty of appeal to that U sound. So if Atticus and Rhodes and Julian and Jude can trend, somehow Rufus might just fit right in, too.
Plus, the popularity of Rufus reaching an all-time low isn’t really a negative for some parents. If you’re after a first name that your child will never share, but most people will immediately recognize, the baby name Rufus has potential.
Overall, it’s daring and cool, the perfect name for a creative family with an independent streak.
What do you think of the baby name Rufus?
First published on January 11, 2009, this post was revised on July 28, 2014 and February 28, 2025.
I love Rufus. Love, love, love…..along with Jethro. I just don’t have the guts to do it. You have to REALLY be able to carry off a Rufus or a Jethro and I am not sure we could.
I’ve been trying to convince my husband to put Rufus on our shortlist for a year or so. No luck so far. Which I think is crazy, because my husband legally changed his own name to Seumas when he came of age. I’ve asked why Seumas is a great name but Rufus is unacceptable, but haven’t gotten a proper answer yet. ;p
We called our son Rufus. Had some funny looks when we told people we planned to do so when I was pregnant but since he’s been born everyone agrees he ‘looks like’ a Rufus! I absolutely love it, it’s one of the few boys names to suit both little boys and grown men. We generally call him Roo though for brevity’s sake!
I think kids would say Doofus, Goofus, Woofus.. I’m thinking I would use Rufus for a dog though, a red-haired dog (if ever I should have one!). I’ll have to see if it’s on the list of popular dog names.
Rufus is so cool! It’s one I really love and could totally see using, if only I were a little braver. I don’t think it would go over well with my family at all. I feel like the kid would get made fun of a lot with the name Rufus. Funny, since Marcus, Julius, etc. are totally acceptable. Rufus is in the same category as Bruno for me, love them both (and they’d make great brothers, no?) but couldn’t bring myself to use them… sadly.
YES! I love Rufus. I will admit, though, it’s probably because of Wainwright. I love him so. *sigh* Anyway, I think it’s a great unexpected choice, but most people will say dog (or Woofus)! That’s what my boyfriend says, just reminds him of a dog. I think I might play around with it later…Thanks for this post! I love it when my pet favorites are done, even if I’m not the one who suggests them!
Oh, and Kate, My other half does the Woofus thing, but insists he still likes the name. Promises not to call him “Woofie”. I don’t have the inclination myself but find it endearing rather than annoying. Anything Monty Python related is more than welcome in this house!
Since he came off my list, I have to admit I’m chamed by him, hmm? I do like him. Exactly because he’s familiar but not expected, wich is exactly the feel of Leo & Simon all those years ago. I like that feel. 🙂 Rufus first hit my radar because of Bill & Ted. “Rufus George would be pretty awesome” I thought back then. None of the other pop references from the movie bother me. I still like him very much. What about Rufus George Porfirio? Hmmm, will have to stew on that one.
I see the charm of Rufus.. but maybe a bit too quirky for me. I like the idea of using a name that goes back that far in history.
Confession: I have the urge to say ‘Woofus’ instead of Rufus a la Monty Python everytime someone mentions this or indeed quite a few other boys names that begin with R! (Wupert, Woderick, Woger – anyone?!)
That aside, I think ‘quirky’ is a good word to describe Rufus as he would perfectly suit a parent with a Bohemian style because he’s slightly left of field whilst remaining widely recognisable. And, inspite of my Monty Python inspired urge to say Woofus(!) I really like him and have been pleasantly surprised to learn that he has such a vast history. So, while Rufus will never exactly be my thing, I would be utterly charmed by him on someone else’s child.