Given name & surname
Bruce
Bruce is used as a given name and a surname. One Scottish interpretation is “a man from Brieuse; one who is wellborn; from an influential family.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scottish interpretation is “a man from Brieuse; one who is wellborn; from an influential family.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Scottish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bruce through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 388,275
- 386,880 boys · 1,395 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 14,693 babies
- 2025
- 558
- #536 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 558 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 536 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 15.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 14,660 in 1956. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (72). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 267,817 as a first name in 2020; 50,879 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bruce’s family of names
In English usage, Bruce has a diminutive in Brucey. Bruce has a feminine form in Brucie. Bruce has a related form in Brooce.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Bruce has relatives in 8 languages.
10 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Bryceequivalent
- ΒρούτιοςGreek
- Brizequivalent
- Bruhsequivalent
- Brooseequivalent
- БрюсRussian, Ukrainian
- БрусRussian
- ブルースJapanese
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Bruce
- Bruce LeeHong Kong–American martial artist and actor (1940–1973)
- Bruce SpringsteenAmerican rock singer (born 1949)
- Bruce BeutlerAmerican immunologist and geneticistborn 1957
- Bruce CampbellAmerican actorborn 1958
- Bruce DernAmerican actorborn 1936
- Bruce McLarenNew Zealand racecar driver, designer and team owner (1937-1970)
- Bruce McCandless IIAmerican astronaut (1937–2017)
- Bruce DavisonAmerican actorborn 1946
- Bruce GreenwoodCanadian actor and musicianborn 1956
Characters named Bruce: Batman (DC Comics), Bruce Banner (the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Bruce Wayne (The Dark Knight trilogy), The Batman Who Laughs (DC Comics).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Bruce, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Douglas
“from the black river”
>99% boys
Guy
“a warrior; from the wood” · “a lively man”
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Neil
“the champion”
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Kenneth
“born of fire” · “handsome, fair one”
>99% boys
Frederick
“a peaceful ruler”
>99% boys
Roy
“a red-haired man” · “a king”
>99% boys
Craig
“from the rocks; from the crag”
>99% boys
Alan
“one who is precious” · “resembling a little rock”
>99% boys