Ruth Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Ruth

Ruth Name Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: roo(th)
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Ruth Name Meaning

The name Ruth is derived from the Hebrew word “rut,” which means “friend” or “companion.” This meaning is fitting, as the book of Ruth is all about the bond between two women, Ruth and Naomi, who become companions and support each other through difficult times.

An emblem of loyalty and unselfishness, in allusion to the biblical character who said to Naomi: Whither thou goest, 1 will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy Lord my Lord.

History of the Name Ruth

Ruth is a name with a rich history and meaning. It is a Hebrew name, which means “friend” or “companion.” The name first appeared in the Bible in the book of Ruth, which tells the story of a Moabite woman who becomes a companion and eventual wife to a Jewish man named Boaz. The book of Ruth is considered one of the most beautiful and moving books in the Bible, and it is the origin of the name Ruth.

Origins of the Name Ruth

The book of Ruth tells the story of a woman named Ruth, who was from the land of Moab. She was a foreigner who married into a Jewish family and ultimately became the great-grandmother of King David. The story is known for its themes of loyalty, love, and redemption.

Ruth’s loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, is particularly striking. When Naomi’s husband and two sons die, she decides to return to her homeland of Judah, and urges her daughters-in-law to stay behind. But Ruth refuses to leave Naomi’s side, saying “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16).

This loyalty and devotion is what makes Ruth’s story so powerful and enduring.

Popularity of the Name Ruth

The name Ruth has been popular in the English-speaking world for over a century. It was a top 50 name in the United States from 1880 to 1950 and has seen a resurgence in recent years.

Ruth is a classic name that has stood the test of time. Its popularity is partly due to the timeless story of Ruth in the Bible, but it’s also a strong name with a positive meaning.

Ruth has been featured in several works of literature, music, and film. The book of Ruth has been adapted into plays, operas, and even a musical. In literature, there is also a novel by Jane Hamilton called “The Book of Ruth” and a novel by Elizabeth Gaskell called “Ruth.”

In music, there are a few songs named after Ruth, like “Ruthie” by Aimee Mann, “Ruth” by Fleet Foxes and “Ruthie” by The Lumineers.

In film, Ruth has been featured in a few movies such as “The Story of Ruth” (1960) and “Ruth and Alex” (2014).

Final Thoughts on the Name Ruth

Ruth is also a popular name among famous people, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ruth Buzzi, and Ruth Gordon.

In conclusion, Ruth is a name with a rich history and meaning. It’s a classic name that’s been around for centuries and has stood the test of time. With its positive meaning, it’s no wonder that it’s been popular for so long. Whether you’re a fan of the book of Ruth, or just like the sound of the name, Ruth is a great choice for a baby girl’s name.

Ruth Name Popularity

How popular is the name Ruth? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	7,209	2.0475%
1911	—	7,995	2.147%
1912	—	11,276	2.236%
1913	—	12,607	2.2236%
1914	—	15,835	2.2722%
1915	—	21,878	2.408%
1916	—	23,190	2.4006%
1917	—	23,568	2.3558%
1918	—	25,534	2.3792%
1919	—	24,565	2.346%
1920	—	26,101	2.3475%
1921	—	25,783	2.2517%
1922	—	23,629	2.1209%
1923	—	23,637	2.1104%
1924	—	23,601	2.0324%
1925	—	22,248	1.9684%
1926	—	20,218	1.8382%
1927	—	19,417	1.7541%
1928	—	17,861	1.6693%
1929	—	16,015	1.5461%
1930	—	14,937	1.43%
1931	—	13,125	1.3298%
1932	—	12,255	1.2404%
1933	—	11,137	1.1954%
1934	—	10,567	1.0931%
1935	—	9,985	1.0275%
1936	—	9,213	0.9564%
1937	—	9,598	0.974%
1938	—	9,301	0.9085%
1939	—	9,056	0.8903%
1940	—	8,879	0.8354%
1941	—	8,860	0.7872%
1942	—	9,308	0.7371%
1943	—	9,365	0.7174%
1944	—	8,671	0.6996%
1945	—	8,041	0.6593%
1946	—	8,472	0.5742%
1947	—	8,481	0.5081%
1948	—	7,904	0.4951%
1949	—	7,651	0.4756%
1950	—	7,127	0.4426%
1951	—	7,075	0.4173%
1952	—	6,953	0.3983%
1953	—	6,577	0.3716%
1954	—	6,567	0.3592%
1955	—	6,183	0.3361%
1956	—	6,072	0.3215%
1957	—	5,667	0.2945%
1958	—	5,246	0.2776%
1959	—	5,052	0.2659%
1960	—	4,943	0.2609%
1961	—	4,888	0.2589%
1962	—	4,292	0.2338%
1963	—	3,866	0.2154%
1964	—	3,625	0.2059%
1965	—	3,230	0.1975%
1966	—	2,837	0.1817%
1967	—	2,415	0.1591%
1968	—	2,143	0.1427%
1969	—	1,897	0.1231%
1970	—	1,804	0.1134%
1971	—	1,615	0.1075%
1972	—	1,365	0.1002%
1973	—	1,241	0.0957%
1974	—	1,282	0.0986%
1975	—	1,207	0.0939%
1976	—	1,170	0.0908%
1977	—	1,162	0.0862%
1978	—	1,188	0.0884%
1979	—	1,178	0.0835%
1980	—	1,224	0.0837%
1981	—	1,245	0.0847%
1982	—	1,157	0.0774%
1983	—	1,096	0.0743%
1984	—	1,137	0.0764%
1985	—	1,089	0.0717%
1986	—	1,053	0.0698%
1987	—	995	0.0652%
1988	—	968	0.0621%
1989	—	953	0.0591%
1990	—	852	0.0514%
1991	—	939	0.0576%
1992	—	805	0.0504%
1993	—	817	0.0524%
1994	—	829	0.054%
1995	—	805	0.0534%
1996	—	762	0.0509%
1997	—	817	0.0552%
1998	—	816	0.0545%
1999	—	836	0.0558%
2000	—	856	0.056%
2001	—	918	0.0609%
2002	—	867	0.0579%
2003	—	843	0.0554%
2004	—	877	0.0575%
2005	—	866	0.0566%
2006	—	867	0.0554%
2007	—	923	0.0585%
2008	—	881	0.057%
2009	—	890	0.0595%
2010	—	904	0.0627%
2011	—	877	0.0616%
2012	—	902	0.0633%
2013	—	962	0.0676%
2014	—	1,027	0.0705%
2015	—	1,066	0.0733%
2016	—	1,063	0.0737%
2017	—	1,184	0.0848%
2018	—	1,212	0.0882%
2019	—	1,315	0.0971%
2020	—	1,266	0.0995%
2021	—	1,440	0.1178%
2022	—	1,643	0.1245%
2023	—	1,594	0.1232%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Ruth

If you like Ruth, you’ll love these other names like Ruth.

What names are variants of Ruth?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Ruth.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Ruthe	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthelle	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthellen	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthetta	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthi	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthie	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthina	Friend, companion	Hebrew
Ruthine	Friend, companion	Hebrew

What names sound like Ruth?

If you like how Ruth sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Ruth.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Reta		Greek
Retha	Excellence; righteous	Greek
Rita	Right	Spanish
Rudi		German
Ruta	Regret	English

What names are similar to Ruth?

Find a name that’s like Ruth, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Raisa	Rose	Yiddish

Ruthann

Lists With Ruth

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Ruth.

Siblings of Ruth

Mamas with kids named Ruth also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Sophia	Wisdom	Greek

Share Your Thoughts

21 Comments

Bibani Dec 23 at 4:56 pm

Ruth means friend in Hebrew. We pray that she would be a friend to many as she shares the good news that Jesus came to save them.

Reply
Ellie Jul 5 at 1:19 pm

we live in my husband’s great-grandma Ruth’s house & like the story of Ruth in the Bible. We also like that it’s a timeless name.

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Rachel May 16 at 8:22 pm

Ruth is one of my (if not my) favorite book(s) in the Bible. I love her faith and God’s provision and protection.
Her name means “compassionate friend”.

She is the sweetest, most joyful baby ever. And her Papa and I love when she sees us have friends over or gets held by or smiles at our friends. She is learning what her name means ?

Her middle name is Elise which means “God’s Promise“. Which makes me ponder what His Promises are and think about His goodness to His children and His goodness to Ruth.

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Angelica Feb 6 at 10:45 am

Ruth is one of our favorite women of the Bible. It’s a traditional name that is uncommon but beautiful, and that will age well with her.

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Guadalupe Sep 18 at 8:36 am

I wanted a Bible name of a strong woman and that was not Esther because we already have a child named Esther. I also wanted something short, and we love it!

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Tasha+Ana+Michaela Jul 31 at 10:01 am

We chose the name Ruth due to its strong matriarch origin along with it being a spiritually strong name.
We named her after her Bubby (great great grandma) whose name is Ruth Naomi. It’s such a strong first name and I can’t wait to continue to watch her grow into it.

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Jacki Dec 19 at 8:55 am

We chose the name Ruth because of the Godly woman she is named after in the bible

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Jaclyn Jun 18 at 8:08 am

We both loved the name Ruth. We liked that it was an older name not used very often.

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Briana Mar 6 at 10:36 am

We love the simplicity and depth of Ruth. A wonderful character in the Bible and the meaning of friend!

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Davene Jan 23 at 12:27 am

Ruth means friendship or companionship.
Ruth is Lord Jesus’ ancestor who also came from the line of King David

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Tessa Oct 12 at 4:55 am

My grandmother’s name was Ruth, and she was the most wonderful woman. I have wanted a “Ruthie” of my own since I can remember, and I’m over the moon that she’s here (I was convinced she was a boy during my whole pregnancy!) I can’t wait to tell her about her great-grandmother!

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- Rachel May 16 at 8:26 pm
  
  That’s wonderful!!! ??
  
  Reply
Katie Jul 1 at 7:03 pm

This is the only name my husband and I could agree on. We love it because it’s an older name, but it’s timeless. We were also looking for a Saint/biblical namesake for our little girl.

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Bonnie Jun 22 at 9:08 am

Family name

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Mohau Mangena Jun 1 at 2:52 am

Ruth was a strong and love woman of God, she never change her love for Naomi(Mohau’s baptismal name) as she was nothing left for her.

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Lani Jun 24 at 5:37 pm

RUTH is a very special name to my husband and I because it is his mother’s name and also his aunty’s name who is married to my uncle and both of them passed.

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- Raffaela Toro Dec 26 at 2:44 pm
  
  It’s a beautiful name what makes it beautiful is the meaning of the name compassionate friend
  
  Reply
  - Raffaela Toro Dec 26 at 2:45 pm
    
    Ruth is also my middle name is suits with raffaela meaning god heals in Hebrew
    
    Reply
  - Ruth Jun 25 at 8:13 am
    
    My name is a really special name cause I live in accordance to it’s meaning which is a companion or a friend of which I am one ??
    
    Reply
Sami Jun 13 at 4:05 pm

We named our daughter after her great grandmother, Ruth. We also loved that it was a biblical name and not very trendy or popular right now.

Cecilia (middle name) is after St. Cecilia, the saint of music. My husband and I are both music lovers and this was a great tribute to that and our Catholic faith.

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Teressa Jun 8 at 5:06 pm

It was my husband’s grandmother’s name, plus it’s a Bible name. Our first four girls have Bible names, so this was our next choice. She (Ruth of the Bible) was so devoted, hard-working, responsible; a lovely woman to be named after.

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