Given name · also American
Rusty
“a red-haired woman; a fiery woman”·“one who has red hair or a ruddy complexion”
Rusty is used as a given name. Interpretations include “a red-haired woman; a fiery woman” (American) and “one who has red hair or a ruddy complexion” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a red-haired woman; a fiery woman” (American) and “one who has red hair or a ruddy complexion” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with American and English naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1927. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rusty through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 18,367
- 17,802 boys · 565 girls
- Most popular year
- 1961
- 576 babies
- 2025
- 58
- #2,384 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +40%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 58 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,384 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 35.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 576 in 1961. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,378 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rusty’s family of names
Rusty has a related form in Rusti. Rusty has a related form in Rustie. Rusty has a related form in Rust.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Rustievariant
- Rustivariant
- Rustyelikely variant
- Rusttylikely variant
- Russtylikely variant
- Rusticevariant
- Rustevariant
- Rustvariant
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 Rusty
- Rusty WallaceAmerican racing driverborn 1956
- Rusty JoinerAmerican modelborn 1972
- Rusty SmithAmerican short track speed skater (born 1979)
- Rusty SchwimmerAmerican actressborn 1962
- Rusty AndersonAmerican guitaristborn 1957
- Rusty Hameractor (1947-1990)
- Rusty LaRueAmerican basketball player-coachborn 1973
- Rusty CundieffAmerican actorborn 1960
- Rusty CooleyAmerican musicianborn 1970
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rusty, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Randy
“lustful”
99% boys · 1% girls
Bob
“one who is bright with fame”
>99% boys
Dustin
“from the dusty area” · “a courageous warrior”
>99% boys
Tony
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% boys
Lorne
“a man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
>99% boys
Bill
“the determined protector” · “will”
>99% boys
Monty
“from Gomeric's mountain” · “of the steep mountain”
99% boys · 1% girls
Delaware
“from the state of Delaware”
79% boys · 21% girls