Ruth
Meaning of Ruth
Ruth traces its roots to the Hebrew word re’ut, “companion” or “compassion,” and first stepped into the spotlight through the Biblical Book of Ruth, where a Moabite widow’s steadfast loyalty became shorthand for friendship in both Sunday-school lessons and English idiom (“Where you go, I will go”). The name’s plain-spoken strength resonated with turn-of-the-century American parents, who propelled it into the national Top 10 during the 1910s and 1920s—an era when a newborn Ruth was only slightly less common than a Model T. Although its rank slipped steadily after mid-century, the chart shows a quiet, methodical comeback: hovering around the 300s in the early 2000s, it has edged up to the mid-100s by 2024, suggesting that vintage simplicity is back in fashion. Cultural references remain plentiful—think baseball legend Babe Ruth (surname, admittedly), Nobel-winning novelist Pearl S. Buck’s heroine Ruth, or Supreme Court icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg—giving the name a mix of homespun charm and heavyweight credentials. Pronounced simply “ROOTH,” it offers parents a one-syllable classic that ages well, travels easily, and, true to its meaning, keeps very good company.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as ROOTH (/ruːθ/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ruth
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American Supreme Court justice from 1993 to 2020, the first Jewish woman and second woman on the Court, known for landmark opinions and later passionate dissents. |
| Dr Ruth Westheimer was a German American sex therapist and talk show host. |
| Ruth Negga is an acclaimed Irish stage and screen actress with nominations for the Academy Award, Tony, BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Olivier awards. |
| Ruth Simmons is a pioneering American academic who led Smith College, became the first African American to head an Ivy League school at Brown University, later led Prairie View A and M University, and was named best college president by Time. |
| Ruth Wilson is an English actress known for Jane Eyre, Luther, The Affair, Mrs Wilson, and His Dark Materials, winning the BAFTA Cymru Best Actress award for Marisa Coulter, with films including The Lone Ranger and Dark River. |
| Ruth Ann Moorehouse, a former Manson Family member, was charged with plotting to silence witness Barbara Hoyt during the Tate LaBianca trial, later had the charge reduced, skipped sentencing, was arrested four years later, and ultimately received no prison time. |
| Ruth Cupp was a trailblazing South Carolina lawyer, judge, legislator, and author who became the first woman in the Charleston County Bar and later served as an associate probate judge, state representative, and columnist for The Post and Courier. |
| Ruth May Fox - Ruth Fox was a 19th century English born American womens rights advocate in the Utah Territory and a poet, hymn writer, and LDS youth leader. |
| Ruth Cowan Nash was an American war correspondent who covered World War II for the Associated Press, following the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps and reporting major battles. |
| Ruth Elizabeth Warrick was an American singer, actress, and political activist best known for playing Phoebe Tyler Wallingford on All My Children from 1970 until her death in 2005, who made her film debut in Citizen Kane and later celebrated her 80th birthday at a special screening of the film. |
| Ruth Deech, Baroness Deech - Baroness Ruth Deech is a British academic and bioethicist who led the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, headed St Annes College Oxford, sits as a Crossbench peer, and chaired the Bar Standards Board. |
| Ruth Handler was an American business leader who co-founded Mattel, created the Barbie doll in 1959, and served as its first president from 1945 to 1975. |
| Ruth E. Carter is an American costume designer celebrated for collaborations with Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Ryan Coogler, earning four Oscar nominations and historic wins for Black Panther and Wakanda Forever as the first African American to win Best Costume Design and the first Black woman with multiple Oscars. |
| Ruth Langsford is an English television presenter best known as the longest serving presenter of This Morning, a regular on Loose Women, and a 2017 Strictly Come Dancing contestant. |
| Ruth Dreifuss is a Swiss economist, unionist, and politician who served on the Federal Council from 1993 to 2002 and was vice president in 1998 and president in 1999 for the Social Democratic Party. |
