Bruce is a distinctive choice, ranked #898 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Bruce in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#898
US Rank #537
About the Name Bruce
Bruce has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 242 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #472 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Bruce is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #537, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Bruce
Unlikely. With around 35 UK babies named Bruce per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Bruce in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Bruce has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 242 places in the last five years. Its peak was #472 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Bruce is more popular in the US (#537) than in the UK (#898). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Bruce include: Bruce Cassidy — Bruce James Cassidy, nicknamed "Butch", is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently was the head coach for the Vegas Golden...; Jay Bruce — Jay Allen Bruce is an American former professional baseball right fielder.; Bruce — Bruce is an English language name that arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands"..
Bruce ranks #537 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
35
UK babies named Bruce (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 242 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Bruce
Likely around 1 other Bruce in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Bruce
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Bruce McCandless II was an American Navy officer and aviator, electrical engineer, and NASA astronaut. In 1984, during the first of his two Space Shuttle missions, he completed the first untethered spacewalk by using the Manned Maneuvering Unit.
Robert I, popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart am Brusach), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England.
Bruce James Cassidy, nicknamed "Butch", is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently was the head coach for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 18th overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1983 NHL entry draft.
Jay Allen Bruce is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
Bruce is an English language name that arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce, it has been a Scottish surname since medieval times; it is now a common male given name.