Given name · also Latin
Rastus
“a loving man”
In English use, Rastus is a short form of Erastus. One Greek interpretation is “a loving man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Greek use, Rastus carries the interpretation “a loving man.” In English use, Rastus is a short form of Erastus. One Greek interpretation is “a loving man.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
Rastus is used as a form of Erastus.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1887. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rastus through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 111
- 111 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1912
- 10 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1934. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rastus’s family of names
Rastus is a short form of Erastus. Rastus has a related form in Rastas. Rastus is a form of Erastus.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Rastus, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Argus
“one who is vigilant and watchful”
>99% boys
Erasmus
“one who is dearly loved”
>99% boys
Rufus
“red(-haired )” · “a red-haired man”
>99% boys
Cletus
“one who has been summoned”
>99% boys
Milas
Milas is a surname from Greek.
>99% boys
Socrates
“an ancient philosopher”
>99% boys
Eustace
“having an abundance of grapes”
>99% boys
Delphin
“resembling a dolphin”
>99% boys