Rufina
From Latin roots meaning "red-haired" or "reddish-colored".
Name Census estimates that about 433 living Americans carry the first name Rufina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rufina today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rufina births was 1928 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rufina. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
433
~ 1 in 791,580 Americans
Peak year
1928
32 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,099
Tracked since 1892
Popularity
Rufina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rufina from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 244 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rufina by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rufina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rufinas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, New Mexico, California recorded the most babies named Rufina, while California, New Mexico, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 87 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rufina
The name Rufina has its origins in Latin, derived from the root "rufus," meaning "red" or "reddish." This connection to the color red likely stems from the name's association with the reddish-brown hair color. The name's initial usage can be traced back to ancient Rome, where it was given to both men and women.
During the Roman era, the name Rufina was relatively common, particularly among the lower classes and freed slaves. It appears in several ancient Roman inscriptions and records, indicating its widespread use in that period. One notable early example is Rufina, a Roman matron who lived in the 1st century AD and was mentioned in the writings of the historian Tacitus.
As Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire, the name Rufina gained additional significance. It is believed that a Christian martyr named Rufina lived in the 3rd century AD and was venerated in the city of Seville, Spain. Her feast day is celebrated on July 19th in the Catholic Church.
In the Middle Ages, the name Rufina continued to be used, primarily in Italy and other regions with strong Roman cultural influences. One notable bearer of the name was Rufina Gozzadini, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 13th century and was known for her piety and charitable works.
During the Renaissance period, the name Rufina experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the Italian nobility and upper classes. One famous bearer of the name was Rufina Camozzi Pitti, an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 15th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and her influential role in Florentine society.
Other notable historical figures named Rufina include:
1. Rufina Cambaceres (1843-1902), an Argentine writer and educator who was a pioneer in the promotion of women's rights and education.
2. Rufina Arroyo (1886-1964), a Mexican painter and influential figure in the Mexican Muralist movement.
3. Rufina Amaya (1901-1976), a Salvadoran activist and the first woman elected to the Salvadoran parliament in 1961.
4. Rufina Velarde (1923-2005), a Mexican artist known for her traditional ceramic works depicting scenes from Mexican life and culture.
5. Rufina Bazlova (1900-1973), a Russian-born Israeli artist and sculptor who was part of the influential Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem.
While the name Rufina has maintained a consistent presence throughout history, its popularity has varied across different regions and time periods, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences of each era.
People
Rufina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rufina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rufina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rufina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 433 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rufina going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 791,580 US residents.
Is Rufina a common name?
We classify Rufina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,035 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rufina most popular?
The single biggest year for Rufina was 1928, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rufina is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rufina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rufina in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.