Ruth
How to say it: ROOTH · /ˈruθ/
From Hebrew 're'ut' meaning 'companion' or 'friend'. Biblical name of the Moabite woman celebrated for loyalty.
Ruth was the 202nd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,781 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are up about 60% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #146 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #202 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,781 |
| Share of births | 1 in 1,861 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | +60% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #146 |
| In France, 2025 | #806 among girls’ names, 35 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once at its height in the 1910s, Ruth remains well used. It stands far below that height but looks ready to climb anew.
What goes with it
Quiet breathy sound gives Ruth a grave and gentle calm with biblical roots. Esther belongs beside it in style.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ruth is about 1 in 78.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Swedish.
In France: #806 for girls in 2025.
Ireland: #262.
Famous people named Ruth
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020)American lawyer and jurist
- Ruth Benedict (1887–1948)American anthropologist and folklorologist
- Ruth Gordon (1896–1985)American actress and writer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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