Ruth (given name)


Ruth is a common female given name, noted from Ruth, the eponymous heroine of the Book of Ruth.

History of usage

The name of the Biblical figure Ruth is generally equated with the Hebraic רְעוּת, meaning companion. This interpretation aligns with the actions of Ruth in the Biblical account, in which she chooses to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi after being widowed.
Ruth first occurs as a given name in Europe at the time of the Protestant Reformation, prior to which the occurrence of Biblical names—unless borne by saints—was unusual among non-Jews.
Although the Puritans generally disfavored Biblical given names, they made an exception for Ruth, as it could be interpreted as a virtue name through its association with the term ruth, a common noun of Germanic origin meaning "sorrow," which could also be interpreted as "compassion." Ruth, therefore, was brought by the Puritan Pilgrims to English-speaking North America, where, overall, the name has since been more popular compared to the British Isles. However, Ruth has been markedly more popular in Ireland than Britain.
Ranked 46th in 1890, the name Ruth surged in popularity, reaching 19th in 1891 and climbing to 5th and 3rd in 1892 and 1893, respectively. The increase in the popularity of the name Ruth can be traced to the birth of Ruth Cleveland on October 3, 1891. She was the daughter of then-former U.S. president Grover Cleveland and his wife, Frances Cleveland. Frances Cleveland became a well-known figure following her marriage to Grover Cleveland on June 2, 1886; she remains the youngest first lady and the only one to be married at the White House. After losing the 1888 presidential election to Benjamin Harrison, whose administration was met with dissatisfaction, Grover Cleveland's return to office was anticipated. He was re-elected in a landslide victory in 1892. The birth of the Clevelands' first child received significant media coverage, and references to "Baby Ruth" appeared frequently during her early years.
The name Ruth ranked in the top ten for American newborn girls until after 1930, staying in the top 20 until after 1937 and in the top 50 until after 1950. Ruth, traditionally recognized as a one-syllable name for girls, has declined in popularity among American newborns since the mid-20th century. Notably, it last appeared in the top 100 rankings in 1961, holding the 96th position. As of the most recent tally for 2023, the name Ruth is ranked 187th among the most popular names for newborn girls in the United States.
Ruth has also been well-used throughout the Anglosphere and was among the top 100 names for girls in England and Wales during the 1980s. It has since declined in use but remains among the top 1,000 names for British girls.
Ruth had also been a popular name in Germany for both Jews and non-Jews before the 1930s but declined, along with many other names of Hebrew origin, in the mid-1930s after Adolf Hitler came to power and Jewish people in the country were persecuted and killed. At least one German Nazi family changed the name of a daughter named Ruth to the Germanic Ingrid because her father had joined the border police and it was unacceptable for his daughter to have a name of Hebrew origin.

Fictional characters