Rue

Rue for girls#1324 US

It's use in the popular TV series Euphoria has certainly brought it into the spotlight. Since the character of Rue Bennett was portrayed by Zendaya in 2019, the name has been used four times more often than it once was in the US.

The herbal plant Rue was introduced by the Romans and has been prized for its medicinal properties – the ancients believed it guarded against epilepsy and vertigo and improved the sharpness of vision.

As a name, it has been used as a nickname for Ruth and Ruby, meaning it fits in with vintage nickname options like Bea, Nell, Mae, and Lou, while also matching the style of modern word names such as Wren, Sage, True, and Hart.

Actress Rue McClanahan, who played Blanche in The Golden Girls, was born Eddi-Rue, named for her parents' middle names Edwin and Rheua-Nell. Actress Sara Rue made her surname the middle name of daughter Talulah Rue.

In 2023, Rue was one of the fastest rising names in England and Wales, jumping into the Top 1000 for the first time. In the US, it has also been trending upwards and was given to around 180 girls in a recent year.

Rue for boys#8119 US

Botanical choice that can work for either gender. Simple and straightforward. Caveats: rue means "regret" in English, and "street" in French. Now in the Top 1000 in England and Wales for girls and trending upwards in the US, it is nevertheless still given to a handful of boys each year. It could equally work as a nickname for a Ruben, Rudy, or a Rupert.