Total births
674
Boys' name · since 1881
Ruffus
Since 1881, U.S. Social Security records show 674 babies named Ruffus, peaking in 1922. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 674
- total births
- 1881–1961
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
674 boys have been named Ruffus since 1881, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Ruffus has 674 recorded births among boys since 1881, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1881 to 1961.
- 674 total births
- 1881–1961 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
674 boys have been named Ruffus since 1881, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1961.
- 674
- total births
- 1881–1961
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Ruffus was born in this single decade.
1922
Single peak year
31 babies were named Ruffus in 1922 - its busiest year on record.
Ruffus's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Ruffus splits its recorded history at 1932: 43% of all births land in the more recent half, 57% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1892 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1922 peak of 31 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Ruffus at a glance
Last recorded 1961Peak year
1922
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1881
Ruffus popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1881–1961
- Peak year (1922)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 81 years of records
Ruffus by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Ruffus's strongest decade.
203 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Ruffus births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 20
1880s
20 births
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 11
1900s
11 births
- 1910s
1910s
112 births
- 1920s
1920s
203 births
- 1930s
1930s
150 births
- 1940s
1940s
105 births
- 1950s 60
1950s
60 births
- 1960s 8
1960s
8 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 203 births (30% of all-time use).
How Ruffus 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 Ruffus's total volume
Ruffus vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ruffus by state
Where Ruffus concentrates geographically, total births since 1881
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 29 | 4.3% |
| #2 | Arkansas | | 7 | 1.0% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 7 | 1.0% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #5 | Mississippi | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #6 | South Carolina | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #7 | Texas | | 5 | 0.7% |
North Carolina share of Ruffus's total US births 4.3%
Even split
29 of 674 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ruffus? ▼
Ruffus has been given to 674 babies in the U.S. since 1881, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1961. 31 babies were born in 1922, its single highest year.
When was Ruffus most popular? ▼
Ruffus was most popular in the 1920s decade with 203 total births. The single peak year was 1922.
Where is Ruffus most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ruffus are North Carolina (29 births), Arkansas (7 births), Georgia (7 births).
How long has the name Ruffus been used? ▼
Ruffus has been recorded in Social Security data since 1881, spanning 81 years of data through 1961.
What names are similar to Ruffus? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rufus, Rufino, Ruffin, Ruford, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ruffus's data
- Ruffus's decade-level peak was the 1920s (203 total births); usage has since declined to 8 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Ruffuss (29 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 Ruffus
Nearby Names Like Ruffus
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ruffus
Rufus Boy
#4073 36,074 births
Rufino Boy
#8375 1,650 births
Ruffin Boy
#12384 560 births
Ruford Boy
71 births
Rufe Boy
29 births
Compare Ruffus side by side: Ruffus vs Rufus Ruffus vs Rufino Ruffus vs Ruffin
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1881–1961 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ruffus: Baby Name Since 1881 - 674 Births, Peak 1922." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ruffus. 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 Ruffus 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.