Russel is a masculine given name and surname of English origin, primarily considered a variant spelling of Russell. The name ultimately derives from the Norman French surname Russel, which originated as a nickname meaning "little red one" — a diminutive of Old French rous "red", referring to a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. As a given name, Russel has historically been used throughout the English-speaking world, particularly during the 20th century. However, this spelling variant is much rarer than the standard Russell. In Middle English, the surname Russel was borrowed from Anglo-Norman, and both forms appeared by the late medieval period. The Yola language of Ireland also recorded a variant spelling Russel