Ruth is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Ruth means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Ruth across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Ruth has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Ruth is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning “companion, friend”. the biblical figure known for loyalty.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 838,901 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 4,122 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 2,602 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 276 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 6,220 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 1,616 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Ruth per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1920 (26,156/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (381/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1977 (201/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1977 (125/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (32/yr).
Ruth has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1920, when it ranked #11 nationally (given to 26,156 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Ruthie · Retha · Ruthe · Rutha · Reatha · Ruthy · Wretha · Rotha
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