Total births
560
Boys' name · since 1886
Ruffin
Ruffin has 560 recorded births since 1886 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1916 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #12384
- among boys today
- 560
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
560 babies have been named Ruffin since 1886, making it today's #12384 boys' name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Ruffin has been recorded 560 times among boys since 1886, currently ranked #12384 nationally and more common than 13% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 2024.
- #12384 among boys today
- 560 born since 1886
- 1920s peak decade
- 13% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Ruffin is currently the #12384 boys' name in America, more common than 13% of boys - 560 born since 1886, peaking in the 1920s.
- #12384
- among boys today
- 560
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Ruffin vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12384
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 13% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Ruffin was born in this single decade.
1916
Single peak year
19 babies were named Ruffin in 1916 - its busiest year on record.
How Ruffin compares
560 Top 41% higher than 59% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Ruffin's all-time total is 53% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Ruffin | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 560 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 19 | 23 | 22,252 |
Ruffin's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ruffin's SSA record in two at 1946 and the more recent half accounts for 39% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 61%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1909, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 19, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ruffin at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1916
Current rank
#12,384
Active since
1886
Ruffin popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2024
- Peak year (1916)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 139 years of records
Ruffin by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Ruffin's strongest decade.
128 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Ruffin births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 6
1880s
6 births
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
72 births
- 1920s
1920s
128 births
- 1930s
1930s
66 births
- 1940s
1940s
105 births
- 1950s
1950s
68 births
- 1960s 30
1960s
30 births
- 1970s 20
1970s
20 births
- 1980s 16
1980s
16 births
- 1990s 17
1990s
17 births
- 2000s 7
2000s
7 births
- 2010s 15
2010s
15 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 128 births (23% of all-time use).
How Ruffin compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Ruffin's total volume
Ruffin vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ruffin by state
Where Ruffin concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 58 | 10.4% |
| #2 | Louisiana | | 36 | 6.4% |
North Carolina share of Ruffin's total US births 10.4%
Even split
58 of 560 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ruffin? ▼
560 babies have been named Ruffin since 1886. It currently ranks #12384 among boys. The peak year was 1916 with 19 births.
When was Ruffin most popular? ▼
Ruffin was most popular in the 1920s decade with 128 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Ruffin most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ruffin are North Carolina (58 births), Louisiana (36 births).
How long has the name Ruffin been used? ▼
Ruffin has been recorded in Social Security data since 1886, spanning 139 years of data through 2024.
What names are similar to Ruffin? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rufus, Rufino, Ruffus, Ruford, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ruffin's data
- Ruffin's decade-level peak was the 1920s (128 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Ruffins (58 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ruffin
Nearby Names Like Ruffin
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ruffin
Rufus Boy
#4073 36,074 births
Rufino Boy
#8375 1,650 births
Ruffus Boy
674 births
Ruford Boy
71 births
Rufe Boy
29 births
Compare Ruffin side by side: Ruffin vs Rufus Ruffin vs Rufino Ruffin vs Ruffus
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Ruffin
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ruffin: #12384 Boys' Name - 560 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ruffin. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ruffin draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.