Fun Facts About the Name Ruth
- Decades of popularity: Ruth stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 82 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1961.
- More than 838 thousand babies named Ruth: U.S. records list 838,861 babies given the name Ruth from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,780 boys received the name Ruth - about 1 boy for every 301 girls.
What Does the Name Ruth Mean?
Ruth is a biblical name traditionally understood to mean "friend" or "companion." Its Hebrew form is Rut (רוּת), though the name may have been Moabite rather than Hebrew. The Hebrew Bible does not explain the name's meaning. A common traditional explanation connects it with a Hebrew word for friendship or a female companion (re'ut), but the consonants and vowels do not match exactly, and some scholars treat the name as a Moabite name of unknown meaning. The familiar meaning "friend" is therefore a customary interpretation rather than a securely documented literal translation.
Ruth Name History & Origins
The name Ruth is best known from the Hebrew Bible. The Book of Ruth is set "in the days when the judges ruled" (Ruth 1:1). It tells of a Moabite woman, Ruth, who marries into an Israelite family that had moved to Moab. After her husband dies, she refuses to leave her mother-in-law Naomi, saying, "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16). She returns with Naomi to Bethlehem, gleans grain in the fields of Boaz, and later marries him as her redeemer. Their son Obed becomes the father of Jesse and the grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:17). In the New Testament, Matthew's genealogy of Jesus names Ruth as an ancestor (Matthew 1:5). In Jewish tradition, the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot.
The Hebrew name passed into Greek as Rhouth (Ρουθ) in the Septuagint and into Latin as Ruth in the Vulgate. Through those translations the name became familiar in Christian Europe, often in forms close to the Latin, such as English and German Ruth, French Ruth, and Spanish Rut. In the English-speaking world, Ruth was used from the 16th century onward, especially among Puritans who favored Old Testament names. The Hebrew form Rut is also used in modern Israel.
How Popular is the Name Ruth?
Ruth remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1961. Its highest annual birth count was in 1920, and people born that year turn 106 in 2026.
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 | #173 | 1,781 | 0.1108% |
| 2024 | #172 | 1,767 | 0.1095% |
| 2023 | #187 | 1,602 | 0.1000% |
| 2022 | #179 | 1,666 | 0.1017% |
| 2021 | #187 | 1,578 | 0.0962% |
| 2020 | #219 | 1,326 | 0.0821% |
| 2019 | #231 | 1,351 | 0.0805% |
| 2018 | #262 | 1,250 | 0.0735% |
| 2017 | #264 | 1,212 | 0.0702% |
| 2016 | #295 | 1,103 | 0.0623% |
| 2015 | #292 | 1,109 | 0.0621% |
| 2014 | #309 | 1,063 | 0.0595% |
| 2013 | #327 | 993 | 0.0566% |
| 2012 | #340 | 931 | 0.0529% |
| 2011 | #358 | 906 | 0.0515% |
| 2010 | #345 | 934 | 0.0526% |
| 2009 | #354 | 915 | 0.0498% |
| 2008 | #356 | 928 | 0.0491% |
| 2007 | #345 | 963 | 0.0501% |
| 2006 | #364 | 891 | 0.0469% |
| 2005 | #347 | 908 | 0.0491% |
| 2004 | #350 | 914 | 0.0498% |
| 2003 | #344 | 896 | 0.0490% |
| 2002 | #334 | 905 | 0.0504% |
| 2001 | #326 | 951 | 0.0528% |
| 2000 | #339 | 909 | 0.0501% |
| 1999 | #344 | 875 | 0.0493% |
| 1998 | #342 | 853 | 0.0483% |
| 1997 | #334 | 857 | 0.0492% |
| 1996 | #346 | 802 | 0.0458% |
| 1995 | #321 | 853 | 0.0485% |
| 1994 | #309 | 882 | 0.0494% |
| 1993 | #308 | 861 | 0.0476% |
| 1992 | #319 | 855 | 0.0464% |
| 1991 | #285 | 985 | 0.0525% |
| 1990 | #305 | 907 | 0.0478% |
| 1989 | #274 | 986 | 0.0535% |
| 1988 | #256 | 997 | 0.0560% |
| 1987 | #249 | 1,031 | 0.0593% |
| 1986 | #238 | 1,084 | 0.0632% |
| 1985 | #233 | 1,116 | 0.0649% |
| 1984 | #223 | 1,165 | 0.0692% |
| 1983 | #223 | 1,124 | 0.0673% |
| 1982 | #222 | 1,178 | 0.0696% |
| 1981 | #207 | 1,267 | 0.0760% |
| 1980 | #207 | 1,258 | 0.0758% |
| 1979 | #216 | 1,202 | 0.0749% |
| 1978 | #212 | 1,208 | 0.0789% |
| 1977 | #212 | 1,191 | 0.0777% |
| 1976 | #205 | 1,198 | 0.0818% |
| 1975 | #199 | 1,230 | 0.0844% |
| 1974 | #195 | 1,299 | 0.0885% |
| 1973 | #201 | 1,273 | 0.0873% |
| 1972 | #201 | 1,383 | 0.0909% |
| 1971 | #190 | 1,629 | 0.0979% |
| 1970 | #178 | 1,816 | 0.1039% |
| 1969 | #168 | 1,900 | 0.1126% |
| 1968 | #149 | 2,150 | 0.1311% |
| 1967 | #145 | 2,420 | 0.1466% |
| 1966 | #128 | 2,846 | 0.1682% |
| 1965 | #118 | 3,231 | 0.1830% |
| 1964 | #114 | 3,640 | 0.1921% |
| 1963 | #113 | 3,869 | 0.2007% |
| 1962 | #104 | 4,293 | 0.2183% |
| 1961 | #96 | 4,896 | 0.2426% |
| 1960 | #97 | 4,942 | 0.2444% |
| 1959 | #97 | 5,056 | 0.2499% |
| 1958 | #90 | 5,247 | 0.2608% |
| 1957 | #84 | 5,667 | 0.2771% |
| 1956 | #77 | 6,075 | 0.3026% |
| 1955 | #70 | 6,187 | 0.3164% |
| 1954 | #66 | 6,566 | 0.3381% |
| 1953 | #62 | 6,582 | 0.3499% |
| 1952 | #57 | 6,953 | 0.3750% |
| 1951 | #53 | 7,076 | 0.3929% |
| 1950 | #49 | 7,128 | 0.4161% |
| 1949 | #47 | 7,651 | 0.4472% |
| 1948 | #45 | 7,903 | 0.4655% |
| 1947 | #44 | 8,481 | 0.4784% |
| 1946 | #38 | 8,475 | 0.5394% |
| 1945 | #33 | 8,046 | 0.6156% |
| 1944 | #32 | 8,674 | 0.6535% |
| 1943 | #33 | 9,369 | 0.6715% |
| 1942 | #33 | 9,315 | 0.6896% |
| 1941 | #28 | 8,863 | 0.7336% |
| 1940 | #24 | 8,887 | 0.7772% |
| 1939 | #22 | 9,063 | 0.8265% |
| 1938 | #21 | 9,303 | 0.8431% |
| 1937 | #15 | 9,602 | 0.9024% |
| 1936 | #16 | 9,217 | 0.8859% |
| 1935 | #15 | 9,989 | 0.9526% |
| 1934 | #13 | 10,565 | 1.0118% |
| 1933 | #13 | 11,137 | 1.1049% |
| 1932 | #11 | 12,256 | 1.1485% |
| 1931 | #11 | 13,131 | 1.2333% |
| 1930 | #10 | 14,942 | 1.3271% |
| 1929 | #8 | 16,022 | 1.4350% |
| 1928 | #6 | 17,859 | 1.5485% |
| 1927 | #6 | 19,412 | 1.6279% |
| 1926 | #6 | 20,225 | 1.7062% |
| 1925 | #6 | 22,247 | 1.8274% |
| 1924 | #6 | 23,600 | 1.8897% |
| 1923 | #6 | 23,638 | 1.9594% |
| 1922 | #5 | 23,633 | 1.9678% |
| 1921 | #5 | 25,783 | 2.0910% |
| 1920 | #5 | 26,102 | 2.1783% |
| 1919 | #5 | 24,562 | 2.1734% |
| 1918 | #5 | 25,535 | 2.2058% |
| 1917 | #5 | 23,568 | 2.1797% |
| 1916 | #5 | 23,189 | 2.2205% |
| 1915 | #5 | 21,878 | 2.2237% |
| 1914 | #5 | 15,839 | 2.0797% |
| 1913 | #5 | 12,609 | 2.0189% |
| 1912 | #5 | 11,280 | 2.0211% |
| 1911 | #5 | 8,003 | 1.9132% |
| 1910 | #5 | 7,212 | 1.8189% |
| 1909 | #4 | 6,509 | 1.8746% |
| 1908 | #4 | 6,180 | 1.8486% |
| 1907 | #5 | 5,573 | 1.7494% |
| 1906 | #5 | 5,140 | 1.7406% |
| 1905 | #5 | 5,068 | 1.7379% |
| 1904 | #5 | 4,900 | 1.7795% |
| 1903 | #5 | 4,517 | 1.7242% |
| 1902 | #5 | 4,384 | 1.6601% |
| 1901 | #5 | 3,974 | 1.6604% |
| 1900 | #5 | 4,765 | 1.5895% |
| 1899 | #5 | 3,912 | 1.6788% |
| 1898 | #5 | 4,249 | 1.6420% |
| 1897 | #5 | 3,878 | 1.6558% |
| 1896 | #5 | 3,905 | 1.6413% |
| 1895 | #6 | 3,551 | 1.5199% |
| 1894 | #6 | 3,372 | 1.5126% |
| 1893 | #3 | 3,658 | 1.7181% |
| 1892 | #5 | 3,290 | 1.5494% |
| 1891 | #19 | 1,857 | 1.0012% |
| 1890 | #46 | 1,195 | 0.6277% |
| 1889 | #46 | 1,073 | 0.6016% |
| 1888 | #59 | 850 | 0.4759% |
| 1887 | #62 | 627 | 0.4295% |
| 1886 | #66 | 581 | 0.4020% |
| 1885 | #70 | 506 | 0.3803% |
| 1884 | #74 | 442 | 0.3426% |
| 1883 | #74 | 387 | 0.3445% |
| 1882 | #80 | 323 | 0.2995% |
| 1881 | #84 | 275 | 0.2991% |
| 1880 | #93 | 234 | 0.2572% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #14,210 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1995 | #8,674 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #9,896 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,346 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #6,305 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #4,480 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #3,672 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #4,886 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #3,615 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #4,626 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #3,889 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #3,827 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #3,078 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #6,105 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #4,861 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,776 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #3,566 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #4,502 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #3,442 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #6,163 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #5,861 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #2,694 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #2,944 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #3,036 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,540 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #3,320 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #2,121 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #2,599 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #2,450 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #2,027 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,033 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #1,750 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #2,520 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #2,025 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #2,511 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #2,350 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #1,829 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #2,350 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #1,965 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #3,136 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #2,875 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #1,928 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,478 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,554 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #1,659 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1948 | #2,100 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #1,515 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #1,295 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1945 | #1,570 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1944 | #1,188 | 32 | 0.0023% |
| 1943 | #1,050 | 42 | 0.0029% |
| 1942 | #1,034 | 43 | 0.0031% |
| 1941 | #1,045 | 39 | 0.0032% |
| 1940 | #1,105 | 36 | 0.0031% |
| 1939 | #884 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1938 | #975 | 43 | 0.0039% |
| 1937 | #891 | 49 | 0.0046% |
| 1936 | #948 | 43 | 0.0041% |
| 1935 | #880 | 52 | 0.0050% |
| 1934 | #770 | 65 | 0.0063% |
| 1933 | #868 | 52 | 0.0052% |
| 1932 | #717 | 76 | 0.0073% |
| 1931 | #814 | 60 | 0.0058% |
| 1930 | #770 | 70 | 0.0064% |
| 1929 | #770 | 70 | 0.0065% |
| 1928 | #796 | 68 | 0.0061% |
| 1927 | #675 | 91 | 0.0081% |
| 1926 | #758 | 73 | 0.0066% |
| 1925 | #753 | 77 | 0.0069% |
| 1924 | #807 | 71 | 0.0063% |
| 1923 | #870 | 62 | 0.0057% |
| 1922 | #788 | 73 | 0.0067% |
| 1921 | #930 | 58 | 0.0053% |
| 1920 | #945 | 54 | 0.0051% |
| 1919 | #830 | 63 | 0.0064% |
| 1918 | #983 | 47 | 0.0046% |
| 1917 | #907 | 50 | 0.0054% |
| 1916 | #853 | 55 | 0.0062% |
| 1915 | #923 | 46 | 0.0054% |
| 1914 | #787 | 46 | 0.0070% |
| 1913 | #850 | 33 | 0.0064% |
| 1912 | #647 | 43 | 0.0100% |
| 1911 | #573 | 29 | 0.0128% |
| 1910 | #469 | 35 | 0.0180% |
| 1909 | #673 | 17 | 0.0104% |
| 1908 | #578 | 20 | 0.0130% |
| 1907 | #694 | 15 | 0.0102% |
| 1906 | #542 | 19 | 0.0143% |
| 1905 | #522 | 20 | 0.0151% |
| 1904 | #609 | 15 | 0.0117% |
| 1903 | #651 | 13 | 0.0109% |
| 1902 | #533 | 17 | 0.0139% |
| 1901 | #528 | 15 | 0.0141% |
| 1900 | #645 | 16 | 0.0106% |
| 1899 | #771 | 9 | 0.0085% |
| 1898 | #566 | 15 | 0.0122% |
| 1897 | #435 | 20 | 0.0177% |
| 1896 | #667 | 12 | 0.0100% |
| 1895 | #966 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1894 | #535 | 15 | 0.0130% |
| 1893 | #606 | 12 | 0.0107% |
| 1892 | #632 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1890 | #1,133 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #1,046 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1885 | #1,076 | 5 | 0.0046% |
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.
