Russel is the single-L spelling variant of Russell — the Old French surname meaning little red one, referring to hair color. It's a name with terrier DNA baked right in, given that the Jack Russell Terrier carries the surname as its most famous association.
The Jack Russell Connection
Russell as a pet name owes a significant debt to the breed name — Jack Russell Terriers are named for the Reverend John Russell, who developed the breed in 19th-century England. Some owners name their Jack Russell Terrier simply Russell, turning the breed's surname origin into a given name. It's a satisfying loop. Jack Russell Terriers wearing the name have obvious historical resonance.
The Spelling Distinction
Russel (one L) appears in the registry as a distinct entry from Russell (two L's). Whether the single-L version represents a deliberate stylistic choice or a registration typo depends on the owner. At this rank, the split between intentional and accidental is genuinely uncertain — which is the nature of variant spellings at rank 2274.
Human Name Crossover
The baby name Russell has been consistently used across the 20th century. Pet owners who wanted to honor a family Russell sometimes go with the single-L variant as a small differentiator. Forty-two registrations straddles the artifact-genuine boundary, but most look intentional.