Bruce Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Bruce has its origins in Norman French, deriving from a place name meaning 'from the brush or thicket'. It evolved from 'Brus' to 'Bruce'. Its historical significance is tied to Robert the Bruce, a key figure in Scottish history, which contributes to its strong image. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Bruce is most popular in Vermont, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Bruce has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Bruce' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 154th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 68th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 34th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 99th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 233rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 457th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 462nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2901st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2362nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1930th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3581st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10575th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Bruce' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Bruce"
Pronunciation
/bruːs/
Origin
Norman French
Etymology
The name Bruce is derived from the place name 'Brix', located in Normandy, France. It was brought to Scotland by the Norman nobleman Robert de Brus in the 12th century.
Meaning
from the brush or thicket
Language Evolution
Brus, Bruce
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in Scotland after Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots, led his country during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Bru, Brucie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Bruce is often associated with strength and leadership, partly due to its historical connections and its use in popular culture.
Famous People
Robert the Bruce, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Lee
Explore More Bruce Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Bruce"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Bruce"
"Bruce" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 154th of 7545 | 16,260 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 68th of 6773 | 57,148 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 34th of 7552 | 227,646 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 99th of 10718 | 48,540 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 233rd of 16616 | 18,713 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 457th of 24088 | 9,135 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 462nd of 23106 | 7,668 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2901st of 9107 | 173 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2362nd of 9204 | 243 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1930th of 12526 | 595 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3581st of 19264 | 287 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 10575th of 27321 | 86 |
Regional Popularity of "Bruce" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
9.75% 138th/1416 |
10.22% 141st/1379 |
7.48% 177th/2366 |
9.46% 108th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
3.62% 56th/1546 |
3.34% 52nd/1556 |
5.86% 138th/2353 |
3.36% 52nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
1.39% 31st/2227 |
1.23% 30th/2430 |
1.93% 55th/2853 |
1.12% 31st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.96% 87th/2937 |
2.01% 70th/3483 |
3.21% 113th/3518 |
3.31% 134th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.56% 205th/3685 |
3.89% 174th/4475 |
4.18% 217th/5194 |
4.86% 307th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.37% 475th/4582 |
7.49% 387th/5164 |
6.47% 473rd/7313 |
6.53% 487th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
12.63% 503rd/3984 |
10.52% 472nd/4487 |
7.51% 512th/6822 |
6.36% 399th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Bruce" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
100.00% 2353rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
78.19% 1900th/2430 |
- |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Bruce"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Bruce" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.