Bruce Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bruce is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bruce?
Bruce is spelled B-R-U-C-E. The name has 5 letters.
Bruce at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Bruce means “of the brushwood” or “from the thicket,” derived from a surname linked to a Norman place name.
- Origin
- Bruce is commonly associated with Norman heritage and was originally a surname derived from a Norman place name before becoming a given name in…
- Pronunciation
- broos · 1 syllable
Bruce Popularity in 2025
Rank#536
Recorded Births558
- Boys usage held steady at #536 and recorded 3 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bruce Mean?
Bruce means “of the brushwood” or “from the thicket,” derived from a surname linked to a Norman place name.
Origin: Bruce is commonly associated with Norman heritage and was originally a surname derived from a Norman place name before becoming a given name in English-speaking countries.
How Do You Pronounce Bruce?
Pronunciationbroos
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Bruce?
- History
- The name Bruce has been historically borne by figures such as Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king in the early 14th century, demonstrating its longstanding use in Scotland and subsequent adoption as a first name.
Bruce Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 558 | #536 |
| 2024 | Boys | 555 | #536 |
| 2023 | Boys | 547 | #542 |
| 2022 | Boys | 526 | #563 |
| 2021 | Boys | 549 | #535 |
| 2020 | Boys | 587 | #498 |
| 2019 | Boys | 624 | #471 |
| 2018 | Boys | 614 | #473 |
| 2017 | Boys | 722 | #429 |
| 2016 | Boys | 702 | #440 |
| 2015 | Boys | 766 | #404 |
| 2014 | Boys | 773 | #401 |
| 2013 | Boys | 710 | #417 |
| 2012 | Boys | 668 | #422 |
| 2011 | Boys | 574 | #469 |
| 2010 | Boys | 485 | #533 |
| 2009 | Boys | 586 | #466 |
| 2008 | Boys | 581 | #478 |
| 2007 | Boys | 636 | #439 |
| 2006 | Boys | 550 | #481 |
| 2005 | Boys | 490 | #504 |
| 2004 | Boys | 532 | #474 |
| 2003 | Boys | 509 | #486 |
| 2002 | Boys | 510 | #467 |
When Was Bruce Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1956 · Boys
14,660 recorded births
National rank #33
1952 · Boys
14,480 recorded births
National rank #25
1954 · Boys
14,155 recorded births
National rank #30
1951 · Boys
14,090 recorded births
National rank #26
Where Bruce Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ID | #302 | 8 |
| CO | #329 | 19 |
| UT | #378 | 12 |
| OK | #395 | 11 |
| AL | #400 | 13 |
| MA | #413 | 12 |
| NJ | #429 | 18 |
| CA | #442 | 72 |