Ruth

Hebrew

"compassionate friend"

Ruth Origin and Meaning

The name Ruth is girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "compassionate friend".

Ruth, with its air of calm and compassion, was the third most popular name in the 1890s, remaining in the Top 10 through the 1920s. It's still in use today as some parents tiring of Rachel and Rebecca are giving Ruth a second thought. Some see such Old Testament girls’ names as Ruth and Esther rising on the heels of boy equivalents Abel and Moses.

The biblical Ruth was the loyal and devoted daughter-in-law of Naomi who, when electing to leave her people and stay with the older woman, speaks the famous lines, "Whither thou goest, I will go."

Ruth has had numerous notable namesakes, from Supreme Court justice Ginsburg to crime writer Rendell to sexologist Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

# 189 in the US

Ruth Rank in US Top 1000

Ruth Popularity

189US2021
262Nameberry2022
172Future2028
587England2020
96Ireland2014
52Sweden2021
24Israel2020

20 Names Similar to Ruth

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Lists containing Ruth

Famous People Named Ruth

RuthBiblical daughter,in,law of Naomi
Joan Ruth Bader GinsburgU.S. Supreme Court Justice
Ruth NeggaIrish,Ethiopian actress and Academy Award nominee
Ruth Clevelanddaughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland; inspiration for the Baby Ruth bar
Ruth WilsonEnglish actress
Dr. Ruth Westheimer (born Karola Ruth Siegel)German,American sex therapist
Ruth Ann BuzziAmerican comedienne
Ruth Fulton BenedictAmerican anthropologist
Ruth Carter StapletonAmerican Christian author
Ruth Flora Disneysister of Walt Disney
Ruth MalcolmsonMiss America 1924

Ruth Barbara RendellBaroness Rendell of Babergh, aka Barbara Vine, English thriller novelist
Ruth Bell Grahamwife of evangelist Billy Graham
Ruth Paynesister of Liam Payne of boy band One Direction
Ruth RomanAmerican actress
Ruth CrillyEnglish model and blogger
Ruth Wendy LangsfordEnglish TV presenter
Ruth Pointersinger with American R&B group The Pointer Sisters
Ruth Weinstein (b. 2002)daughter of film producer Harvey Weinstein
Ruth Ray De La luz 'Ruthie Ray' Leonard (b. 2019)daughter of Bekah Martinez and Grayston Leonard
Ruth HarknessAmerican explorer

Ruth in Pop Culture

Rutheight book in the Bible
Baby Ruthcandy bar named for Ruth Cleveland
Ruthmain character in book/movie "Never Let Me Go"
Ruth Rosemain character in "A,Z Mysteries" by Ron Roy
Ruth Dead (née Foster)character in Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Ruth Anne 'Ruthie' Camdencharacter on TV's '7th Heaven' named after her grandmother Ruth
Ruthpirate maid,of,all,work in opera "The Pirates of Penzance"
Ruthprofessional bridesmaid in opera "Ruddigore"
Ruth Pinchcharacter in Dickens' "Martin Chuzzlewit"
RuthZionist with whom Clarel falls in love in "Clarel" by Herman Melville
Mrs Ruth Stockwoolcompanion to Ann Avice Caro in "The Well Beloved" (1897) by Thomas Hardy

Ruth Jeffersonmain character in Jodi Picoult's novel "Small Great Things"
Ruth Ann Torkelsoncharacter on TV's "The Torkelsons"
RuthAnne Miller, character from TV series "Northern Exposure"
Rutharchangel in Ghost Rider comics
Ruthcharacter in George Alfred Henty's, The Cat of Bubastes
Ruthdragon in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern novels
Ruth DeWitt Bukatercharacter in movie "Titanic"
Ruth O'Connor Fishercharacter on TV's "Six Feet Under"
Ruth Fowlercharacter on British soap "EastEnders"
Ruth Evershedcharacter on British TV's "Spooks"

Ruth Winterscharacter on British TV's "Casualty"
Ruth Martinmom on TV's "Lassie"
Ruth Martincharacter on soap "All My Children"
Ruth Osbornecharacter on British soap "Hollyoaks"
Ruth Wilkinsoncharacter on Australian soap "Neighbours"
Ruth Powerscharacter on TV's "The Simpsons"
Ruth "Zoya the Destroya" Wildercharacter on TV's "GLOW"
RuthAmerican Christian band
Tina Ruth Belchereldest daughter on Fox's "Bob's Burgers"