Baby Names Girl Names Ruth Name Meaning Ruth is often used as a girl name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ruth. By Meena Azzollini Published on June 24, 2024 Fact checked by Sarah Scott In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Ruth? Name Variations Common Nicknames Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names for Ruth Famous People Named Ruth Close Looking for a classic old-fashioned name for your baby girl? You can’t go wrong with the name Ruth, which also has a strong biblical backstory. Ruth is predominantly a girl name of Hebrew origin, meaning “friend,” “friendship,” or “compassionate friend.” It is derived from the Hebrew word re’ut, meaning “friend.” Ruth is the central character in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament, which is one of only two books named after a woman. The biblical Ruth was an ancestor of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. After the death of her husband, Ruth accompanied her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem when she famously spoke the words, “Whither thou goest, I will go.” Read on to learn about the name Ruth, its popularity, variations, and famous people with the name. Origin: Ruth is of Hebrew origin, meaning "friend," "friendship," or "compassionate friend."Gender: The name Ruth is commonly used as a girl name.Pronunciation: rooth Editor's Note Although baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best. How Popular Is the Name Ruth? The name Ruth has a long history. It's been popular since the 1500s in Europe and the British Isles. The name was introduced to the United States in the 1800s and got an enormous boost in popularity in 1891 with the birth of Ruth Cleveland, the daughter of President Grover Cleveland. According to the Social Security Administration, the name was properly ensconced at number five in the top 10 names in the United States by 1900. For another 30 years, the name remained in the top 10. Its popularity waned, but only slightly, with Ruth staying in the top 50 until 1950. It continued to feature in the top 100 until 1961, after which the name continued its decline in popularity. However, more recently, Ruth has been gaining traction. Beginning in 2015, it was featured in the top 300 names. In 2023, Ruth reached the 187th spot. Name Variations The following are the variations of the name Ruth: Reut, Rut (Hebrew) Rhouth (Biblical Greek name) Ruf (Russian name) Rút (Czech) Rút (Slovak) Rut (Spanish name, Swedish name, Icelandic) Ruta (Latvian, Polish name) Rūta (Lithuanian) Rute (Portuguese) Ruthanne (English) Ruthia (English) Ruthie (English) Ruthina (English) Rutt (Estonian) Ruut (Finnish) Common Nicknames Ruth is already a short name so it may not need a shortened version. However, possible nicknames include Rue, Ruey, Ruthie, and Roo. Similar Names Old-fashioned girl names like Ruth: AdeleAliceBetteCandiceDaisyDorothyEthelEleanorHeidiHenriettaIngridIrisJaneJoanMarthaOpheliaPearlRoseVioletWendy Other biblical girl names: AnnaDeborahEstherHannahKeziahMyraNaomiRachelRebeccaSarah Other girl names starting with R: RaelynRainaReeseRihannaRileyRiyaRoryRosaleeRosemaryRowenaRuby Suggested Sibling Names for Ruth Looking for a sibling name for Ruth? Here are some popular options: AbigailAdaArthurCoraEdmundEdwardFredHenryKateLewisMichaelSebastianTabithaTobias Famous People Named Ruth There are many notable namesakes named Ruth, from the 1887-born American anthropologist Ruth Benedict to the American singer and actor Ruth Mae Terry and the inventor of the Toll House Cookie, Ruth Wakefield. The name Ruth has been associated with American sculptor Ruth Asawa, Canadian basketball player Ruth Davis, and British-American novelist Ruth Jhabvala. Famous Ruths Ruth Bader Ginsburg, American lawyer and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 to 2020.Ruth Brown, American singer and actor, known for a series of hit songs in the 1950s and an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.Ruth Buzzi, American actor, comedian, and singer best known for her performances on the show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.Ruth Manning-Sanders, Welsh-born English poet and author, known for a series of children's books such as The Book of Giants and Tales of Magic and Mystery.Ruth Rendell, English author known for murder mysteries and thrillers, and is the creator of Chief Inspector Wexford, a recurring character in her books.Ruth Wilson, English actor known for her award-winning roles in the plays Anna Christie, and A Streetcar Named Desire. More Baby Names Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the US 50 Strong Female Names 100 Flower and Plant Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Women in the Bible. Houston Christian University. 2024. Popularity of a name. Social Security Administration. 2024.