Rastus

Greek

"beloved, desired"

Rastus Origin and Meaning

The name Rastus is a boy's name.

Rastus is a male name that originated as a diminutive of Erastus, which comes from Greek meaning "beloved" or "lovely." However, it's important to note that during the 19th and 20th centuries, this name became problematically associated with racist caricatures and stereotypes of Black men in American minstrel shows and popular culture. Due to this harmful historical context, the name fell sharply from use and is now extremely rare. The name's earlier legitimate origins as a shortening of the biblical name Erastus (mentioned in the New Testament as a companion of Paul) have been overshadowed by its later negative associations. Because of its complicated history, it's generally avoided in contemporary naming practices.

The name Rastus in Pop Culture

• Rastus the African,American caricature on packages of Cream of Wheat cereal since 1893