Rutherford

A boy's name of Old English origin with 729 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A Scottish habitational surname from Old English from a place where there was once a settlement in the Scottish borders.

Rutherford is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, a Scottish-English habitational surname meaning 'cattle ford' — from Old English hrȳðer (cattle) and ford (river crossing). In American naming history, it is closely tied to Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, whose name inspired a generation of parents to pass it down as a first name.

Presidential surname names were a 19th-century American tradition, and Rutherford is one of the more distinguished examples — long, formal, and carrying an unmistakable air of civic gravitas. The nickname Rudy or Ruff offers a lighter everyday option.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Rutherford is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1880 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Rutherford’s 729 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

729

Total births

Since 1880

1921

Peak

25 births

1880

First recorded

144 years of data

Compare Rutherford with another name

Popularity Over Time

Rutherford has 75+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

First appeared: 1880Peak: 1921 (25 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Rutherford
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	37	#8926	▼
2010s	43	#10995	▲
2000s	5	#14001	▼
1990s	7	#7029	▼
1970s	25	#5051	▲
1960s	22	#4185	▼
1950s	60	#3315	▼
1940s	84	#2734	—
1930s	84	#2615	▼
1920s	158	#2236	▲
1910s	139	#1728	▲
1900s	20	#1263	▲
1890s	14	#953	▼
1880s	31	#896	—

The Story of Rutherford

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1921, Rutherford is a name steeped in history. Boys named Rutherford are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.

How rare is Rutherford?

With 729 total births on record, Rutherford remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 158 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Rutherford by the numbers

Would fill 15 school buses
Meeting one Rutherford per day would take 2 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(75 years, 1880–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Rutherford
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	11	#7642	+2 (22.2%)
2022	9	#8844	-2 (-18.2%)
2021	11	#7476	+5 (83.3%)
2020	6	#11742	+1 (20.0%)
2019	5	#13751	-6 (-54.5%)
2018	11	#7517	+3 (37.5%)
2017	8	#9523	0
2016	8	#9508	+2 (33.3%)
2014	6	#11848	+1 (20.0%)
2012	5	#13824	0
2007	5	#14001	-2 (-28.6%)
1990	7	#7029	0
1978	7	#4951	0
1977	7	#5021	+2 (40.0%)
1972	5	#5602	-1 (-16.7%)
1970	6	#4628	0
1966	6	#3877	+1 (20.0%)
1965	5	#4341	-1 (-16.7%)
1964	6	#3963	+1 (20.0%)
1961	5	#4557	-3 (-37.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rutherford a boy's or girl's name?

Rutherford is primarily a boy's name.

When was Rutherford most popular?

Rutherford reached its peak popularity in 1921 with 25 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Rutherford?

Rutherford is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 729 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1921.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2023