Fun Facts About the Name Ruby
- Back among the favorites: Ruby returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 13 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 379 thousand babies named Ruby: U.S. records list 379,643 babies given the name Ruby from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,114 boys received the name Ruby - about 1 boy for every 121 girls.
What Does the Name Ruby Mean?
Ruby is an English feminine name taken from the word for the red gemstone. The gemstone name comes from Old French rubi, which was borrowed from Medieval Latin rubinus (short for lapis rubinus, 'red stone'). That Latin term derives from rubeus, 'red,' from the same family as Latin ruber, 'red.' The literal meaning is therefore 'red gemstone' or simply 'red.'
The name has no separate ancient mythological origin. Its associations with redness, rarity, and value come from the gemstone itself; they are symbolic readings of the object, not additional etymologies.
Ruby Name History & Origins
The word ruby entered English in the Middle Ages from Old French rubi, and for centuries it named the red gemstone rather than a person. As a given name, Ruby belongs to the 19th-century English fashion for gemstone names, a group that also includes Pearl, Opal, and Beryl. It was used as a feminine name in the English-speaking world from that period onward.
In the 19th century, Ruby was also sometimes used as a pet form of the masculine name Reuben, a Hebrew name meaning 'behold, a son.' That usage is a separate naming tradition from the gemstone name. Later fictional characters named Ruby, such as Ruby Thewes in Charles Frazier's 1997 novel Cold Mountain, are later uses of a name that was already established; they did not originate it.
How Popular is the Name Ruby?
Ruby ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1888 through 1945, then returned in 2013 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #64 | 3,554 | 0.2211% |
| 2024 | #63 | 3,517 | 0.2180% |
| 2023 | #65 | 3,356 | 0.2094% |
| 2022 | #62 | 3,619 | 0.2208% |
| 2021 | #62 | 3,596 | 0.2193% |
| 2020 | #74 | 3,339 | 0.2067% |
| 2019 | #66 | 3,738 | 0.2228% |
| 2018 | #74 | 3,590 | 0.2111% |
| 2017 | #79 | 3,587 | 0.2078% |
| 2016 | #71 | 3,847 | 0.2172% |
| 2015 | #83 | 3,467 | 0.1943% |
| 2014 | #90 | 3,429 | 0.1920% |
| 2013 | #93 | 3,319 | 0.1892% |
| 2012 | #105 | 2,918 | 0.1657% |
| 2011 | #109 | 2,769 | 0.1574% |
| 2010 | #113 | 2,797 | 0.1574% |
| 2009 | #108 | 3,019 | 0.1644% |
| 2008 | #113 | 3,020 | 0.1597% |
| 2007 | #116 | 2,900 | 0.1508% |
| 2006 | #137 | 2,582 | 0.1358% |
| 2005 | #130 | 2,472 | 0.1338% |
| 2004 | #158 | 2,120 | 0.1155% |
| 2003 | #189 | 1,707 | 0.0934% |
| 2002 | #208 | 1,579 | 0.0879% |
| 2001 | #232 | 1,365 | 0.0758% |
| 2000 | #258 | 1,266 | 0.0697% |
| 1999 | #261 | 1,209 | 0.0682% |
| 1998 | #256 | 1,207 | 0.0683% |
| 1997 | #280 | 1,040 | 0.0597% |
| 1996 | #295 | 985 | 0.0562% |
| 1995 | #260 | 1,053 | 0.0599% |
| 1994 | #271 | 1,031 | 0.0577% |
| 1993 | #266 | 1,033 | 0.0571% |
| 1992 | #272 | 1,040 | 0.0564% |
| 1991 | #277 | 1,004 | 0.0535% |
| 1990 | #291 | 954 | 0.0502% |
| 1989 | #329 | 765 | 0.0415% |
| 1988 | #385 | 621 | 0.0349% |
| 1987 | #369 | 631 | 0.0363% |
| 1986 | #401 | 558 | 0.0325% |
| 1985 | #384 | 593 | 0.0345% |
| 1984 | #380 | 595 | 0.0353% |
| 1983 | #378 | 591 | 0.0354% |
| 1982 | #371 | 622 | 0.0367% |
| 1981 | #346 | 677 | 0.0406% |
| 1980 | #357 | 659 | 0.0397% |
| 1979 | #351 | 661 | 0.0412% |
| 1978 | #347 | 628 | 0.0410% |
| 1977 | #364 | 601 | 0.0392% |
| 1976 | #348 | 616 | 0.0420% |
| 1975 | #346 | 628 | 0.0431% |
| 1974 | #359 | 601 | 0.0410% |
| 1973 | #345 | 635 | 0.0435% |
| 1972 | #348 | 638 | 0.0419% |
| 1971 | #346 | 730 | 0.0439% |
| 1970 | #358 | 695 | 0.0398% |
| 1969 | #343 | 681 | 0.0404% |
| 1968 | #352 | 639 | 0.0390% |
| 1967 | #318 | 745 | 0.0451% |
| 1966 | #311 | 807 | 0.0477% |
| 1965 | #276 | 985 | 0.0558% |
| 1964 | #270 | 1,113 | 0.0587% |
| 1963 | #236 | 1,382 | 0.0717% |
| 1962 | #263 | 1,148 | 0.0584% |
| 1961 | #245 | 1,278 | 0.0633% |
| 1960 | #229 | 1,387 | 0.0686% |
| 1959 | #215 | 1,501 | 0.0742% |
| 1958 | #202 | 1,639 | 0.0815% |
| 1957 | #197 | 1,783 | 0.0872% |
| 1956 | #179 | 1,992 | 0.0992% |
| 1955 | #173 | 2,009 | 0.1027% |
| 1954 | #162 | 2,143 | 0.1104% |
| 1953 | #150 | 2,342 | 0.1245% |
| 1952 | #145 | 2,375 | 0.1281% |
| 1951 | #140 | 2,351 | 0.1305% |
| 1950 | #130 | 2,414 | 0.1409% |
| 1949 | #123 | 2,577 | 0.1506% |
| 1948 | #114 | 2,894 | 0.1704% |
| 1947 | #112 | 3,069 | 0.1731% |
| 1946 | #105 | 3,050 | 0.1941% |
| 1945 | #95 | 2,904 | 0.2222% |
| 1944 | #87 | 3,190 | 0.2404% |
| 1943 | #82 | 3,470 | 0.2487% |
| 1942 | #77 | 3,519 | 0.2605% |
| 1941 | #69 | 3,581 | 0.2964% |
| 1940 | #66 | 3,619 | 0.3165% |
| 1939 | #67 | 3,712 | 0.3385% |
| 1938 | #61 | 3,941 | 0.3572% |
| 1937 | #52 | 4,289 | 0.4031% |
| 1936 | #51 | 4,226 | 0.4062% |
| 1935 | #41 | 4,765 | 0.4544% |
| 1934 | #39 | 4,977 | 0.4766% |
| 1933 | #43 | 4,944 | 0.4905% |
| 1932 | #38 | 5,469 | 0.5125% |
| 1931 | #39 | 5,331 | 0.5007% |
| 1930 | #36 | 5,993 | 0.5323% |
| 1929 | #36 | 6,152 | 0.5510% |
| 1928 | #34 | 6,692 | 0.5802% |
| 1927 | #30 | 7,264 | 0.6092% |
| 1926 | #30 | 7,476 | 0.6307% |
| 1925 | #30 | 7,843 | 0.6442% |
| 1924 | #26 | 8,406 | 0.6731% |
| 1923 | #25 | 8,232 | 0.6824% |
| 1922 | #26 | 8,003 | 0.6664% |
| 1921 | #26 | 8,333 | 0.6758% |
| 1920 | #26 | 8,336 | 0.6957% |
| 1919 | #24 | 8,334 | 0.7374% |
| 1918 | #27 | 8,134 | 0.7026% |
| 1917 | #27 | 7,662 | 0.7086% |
| 1916 | #23 | 7,686 | 0.7360% |
| 1915 | #24 | 7,237 | 0.7356% |
| 1914 | #24 | 5,625 | 0.7386% |
| 1913 | #23 | 4,913 | 0.7867% |
| 1912 | #23 | 4,452 | 0.7977% |
| 1911 | #22 | 3,372 | 0.8061% |
| 1910 | #27 | 2,893 | 0.7296% |
| 1909 | #27 | 2,524 | 0.7269% |
| 1908 | #33 | 2,229 | 0.6667% |
| 1907 | #34 | 2,113 | 0.6633% |
| 1906 | #36 | 1,962 | 0.6644% |
| 1905 | #38 | 1,885 | 0.6464% |
| 1904 | #41 | 1,701 | 0.6177% |
| 1903 | #42 | 1,538 | 0.5871% |
| 1902 | #47 | 1,458 | 0.5521% |
| 1901 | #49 | 1,225 | 0.5118% |
| 1900 | #51 | 1,540 | 0.5137% |
| 1899 | #52 | 1,103 | 0.4733% |
| 1898 | #58 | 1,191 | 0.4603% |
| 1897 | #57 | 1,025 | 0.4377% |
| 1896 | #66 | 994 | 0.4178% |
| 1895 | #66 | 954 | 0.4083% |
| 1894 | #67 | 874 | 0.3921% |
| 1893 | #71 | 769 | 0.3612% |
| 1892 | #74 | 695 | 0.3273% |
| 1891 | #80 | 554 | 0.2987% |
| 1890 | #81 | 540 | 0.2836% |
| 1889 | #78 | 522 | 0.2927% |
| 1888 | #94 | 445 | 0.2491% |
| 1887 | #105 | 309 | 0.2117% |
| 1886 | #106 | 301 | 0.2083% |
| 1885 | #106 | 272 | 0.2044% |
| 1884 | #109 | 244 | 0.1891% |
| 1883 | #127 | 163 | 0.1451% |
| 1882 | #132 | 136 | 0.1261% |
| 1881 | #133 | 119 | 0.1294% |
| 1880 | #149 | 92 | 0.1011% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,082 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #5,386 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #6,816 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #5,178 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #6,279 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #7,947 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #9,581 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #11,867 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #11,933 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,503 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #7,985 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #10,538 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #11,977 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,861 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,086 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,205 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2007 | #9,591 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #7,325 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #6,633 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #9,037 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #8,950 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #9,659 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #5,762 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #10,507 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #5,884 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #4,734 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #4,251 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1993 | #3,017 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1992 | #3,885 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #3,603 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #3,041 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1989 | #2,763 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,753 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1987 | #4,190 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #4,771 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #3,760 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #3,246 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #3,584 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #3,255 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,572 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #3,801 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #4,774 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #4,483 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #5,714 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #4,348 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #3,618 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #5,120 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #3,405 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #3,554 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #2,943 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #3,475 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #3,868 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #2,703 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,583 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #2,313 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #2,447 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,294 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1963 | #2,648 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #2,813 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #3,063 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #2,192 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #3,241 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #2,789 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,460 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #1,710 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,293 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #1,880 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #1,759 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1952 | #1,743 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1951 | #1,959 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #1,648 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1949 | #1,576 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1948 | #2,203 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #1,588 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1946 | #1,233 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1945 | #1,435 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #1,308 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,337 | 28 | 0.0020% |
| 1942 | #1,331 | 28 | 0.0020% |
| 1941 | #1,368 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1940 | #948 | 46 | 0.0040% |
| 1939 | #1,192 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1938 | #908 | 49 | 0.0044% |
| 1937 | #844 | 53 | 0.0050% |
| 1936 | #891 | 48 | 0.0046% |
| 1935 | #831 | 57 | 0.0055% |
| 1934 | #868 | 53 | 0.0051% |
| 1933 | #849 | 54 | 0.0054% |
| 1932 | #885 | 53 | 0.0051% |
| 1931 | #793 | 63 | 0.0061% |
| 1930 | #831 | 62 | 0.0056% |
| 1929 | #812 | 64 | 0.0060% |
| 1928 | #925 | 54 | 0.0049% |
| 1927 | #724 | 81 | 0.0072% |
| 1926 | #888 | 58 | 0.0052% |
| 1925 | #830 | 65 | 0.0058% |
| 1924 | #847 | 66 | 0.0058% |
| 1923 | #891 | 59 | 0.0054% |
| 1922 | #946 | 55 | 0.0051% |
| 1921 | #788 | 74 | 0.0067% |
| 1920 | #762 | 76 | 0.0071% |
| 1919 | #896 | 56 | 0.0057% |
| 1918 | #721 | 79 | 0.0078% |
| 1917 | #897 | 51 | 0.0055% |
| 1916 | #770 | 64 | 0.0072% |
| 1915 | #801 | 58 | 0.0068% |
| 1914 | #814 | 43 | 0.0066% |
| 1913 | #635 | 50 | 0.0098% |
| 1912 | #566 | 51 | 0.0119% |
| 1911 | #572 | 29 | 0.0128% |
| 1910 | #616 | 23 | 0.0118% |
| 1909 | #746 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #1,013 | 9 | 0.0058% |
| 1907 | #493 | 23 | 0.0157% |
| 1906 | #430 | 27 | 0.0203% |
| 1905 | #632 | 15 | 0.0113% |
| 1904 | #478 | 21 | 0.0164% |
| 1903 | #501 | 19 | 0.0159% |
| 1902 | #611 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1901 | #585 | 13 | 0.0122% |
| 1900 | #511 | 22 | 0.0146% |
| 1899 | #652 | 11 | 0.0104% |
| 1898 | #565 | 15 | 0.0122% |
| 1897 | #672 | 11 | 0.0098% |
| 1896 | #494 | 18 | 0.0151% |
| 1895 | #474 | 19 | 0.0162% |
| 1894 | #591 | 13 | 0.0112% |
| 1893 | #757 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1892 | #849 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1891 | #587 | 11 | 0.0109% |
| 1890 | #1,132 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1889 | #1,089 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #602 | 12 | 0.0099% |
| 1887 | #673 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1886 | #1,082 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #1,074 | 5 | 0.0046% |
| 1880 | #891 | 6 | 0.0054% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Ruby
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Ruby Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Ruby's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ruby's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.