Roman cognomen from the Latin word rufus, meaning red or ruddy, describing red hair or a ruddy complexion. It was used as a nickname for England's King William II, known as William Rufus, because of his red hair.
Nicknames
rufi · ru · ruf
Vibe
quirky
How it ages.
A vintage cognomen with old-world charm; its easy nicknames keep it wearable long after childhood.
The cultural moment.
Ranked #494 in England and Wales in 2025; currently outside the top 1000 names in the United States.