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Russell

Boy name · 1,605 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Russell: 1,605 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 117 births in 1981.

Russell originates from the Old French diminutive "Roussel," meaning "little red one" or “red-haired,” and came to Scotland via Norman settlers as both a surname and given name. Its most renowned bearer is the great philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell, a Nobel laureate whose influence on logic and social criticism endures. Actor Russell Crowe has also made the name globally familiar, while the beloved boy scout Russell from Pixar’s *Up* gives it a gentle, adventurous feel. Place connections are more indirect, but Russell Square in London and the Russell Islands in the Solomon Islands reflect the name’s adoption into geography. Notably, in Scotland the name remains classically strong without feeling dated—often chosen by families who value a solid, traditional name with a subtle nod to red hair, whether real or aspirational.