Rui (given name)


Rui is a Portuguese male given name, a Japanese unisex name, and a Chinese unisex name component.
In Portuguese, it is not proven that “Ruy” originated as a diminutive of “Rodrigo”, as the transformation does not follow a simple diminutive pattern as with other names in the Iberian Peninsula. The name “Ruy” has been historically documented since the 12th century and was used independently of “Rodrigo”. It can be found in medieval records and documents of nobles in both Galicia and Portugal, where it is still used to this day in the form of Rui/Roi/Rói. Its popularity in Galician-Portuguese indicates an independent use rather than a speculative derivation from “Rodrigo”. For example, names such as “Ruy” and “Rodrigo” appear in the “Livro de Linhagens” from the 13th century, but not as variants of each other.
It is hypothesized to have an independent, pre-roman origin related to other linguistic roots, including Celtic influences such as the Gaelic word red, which is related to “Rory”. This etymology of the name would mean that the name translates as “red” in its origin.
Notable people with the name include: