She’s Biblical and brief, and she’s been part of the US Top Ten before. Is she due for a comeback?
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day, Ruth.
Ruth has been around for ages.
She’s got her own book in the Old Testament. Her story goes like this: she’s an ordinary girl in Moab, who marries recent Israeli immigrant Mahlon. Mahlon and the rest of his male kin die over the years, and so Mahlon’s mom, Naomi, packs up to return to her home country. She’s not expecting Ruth to leave Moab; in fact, Naomi tells her to stay. But Ruth insists that she’s by her side, come rain or come shine. Once they’re back in Naomi’s hometown, Ruth marries the wealthy Boaz and they all live happily ever after.
She’s the loyal Ruth; there’s a royal Ruth, too. Princess Ruth served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawai’i in the mid-nineteenth century.
In 1853, Elizabeth Gaskell penned Ruth, the tale of a respectable orphaned girl who despite many toils and snares, ultimately leads a virtuous life. A year later, Fanny Fern released Ruth Hall: A Domestic Tale of the Present Time. Her widowed Ruth went on to fame and fortune as a writer.
Were the novels the spark that made Ruth so very popular? It’s hard to say. Ruth was a Top 100 choice when the US rankings were first compiled in the 1880s. In 1890, Ruth ranked #46.
United States president Grover Cleveland and his wife Frances gave the fashionable name to a child born in 1891. The new First Daughter was wildly popular. In 1891, Ruth rose to #19, and by 1892, she ranked #5.
A few years later, Ruth went from the White House to the Red Sox, as George Herman Ruth, Jr. – better known as Babe Ruth – started his baseball career. As a surname, Ruth isn’t related to the Biblical figure, but to the Middle English word reuthe – pity – which was probably given to those known for their charitable acts.
The Baby Ruth candy bar came along in 1921. Despite claims that it had been named after Miss Cleveland, odds are that it had more to do with the athlete. Or, as some have claimed, the bar may have been named after a company exec’s granddaughter.
Plenty of accomplished women wear the name:
- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed in 1993;
- Screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is best known for her work on Howards End and Room With a View;
- The musical Pointer Sisters include firstborn Ruth;
- Dr. Ruth Westheimer became an 1980s icon, well known for her frank talk about sex;
- Ruth Fertel founded the upscale steakhouse chain Ruth’s Chris in 1965;
- Philanthropist Ruth Lilly inherited the Eli Lilly fortune and spent her life giving it away.
Television matriarchs, from Lassie to All My Children to Six Feet Under, have worn Ruth, too, as has a white dragon in Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series.
Ruth left the US Top Ten in 1930, and the Top 100 in 1961. She kept falling, reaching #361 in 2008. But between the Bible, the Bambino and the continuing affection for antique appellations, Ruth could be just about ready for a revival.
I should love Ruth, but I don’t. I find it hard to say in some way (and that Ruth’s Chris? it’s crazy hard to say for me!) Also, one of my husband’s college friends is called Ruth (nn Roo) and I pretty much think of her – she’s lovely, but it’s *her* name. I do like the idea of the nn Roo. And while I would never even consider it for a daughter of mine, I do not mind it at all on others’ kids, and can even understand why it would appeal.
Ditto JNE. I do think Ruth has kind of a harsh, naggish sound, but I would much rather see this on a child instead of some of the other tryndee, history-less names being used these days. I went to school with a Ruth. She is in her early 20s. I liked it for her, but its not a name for me or my future children
Ruth is my middle name and I’m sad to say that I’ve never really cared for it. Paired with my first name I just find it far too vanilla. I think I might like it with something a little more exciting, and at times I’ve actually considered going by Ruthie just to avoid being one of three Sarah’s in the room but I can’t see it ever making it onto my baby name lists
It’s a shame too with such a lovely biblical story behind it.
Both of my husband’s grandmothers have Ruth in their names (one 1st and one middle) so it’s an obvious choice for us. I love the meaning, but it just doesn’t do much for me. His grandmothers other names are Elizabeth and Mary, I can’t tell you how often I wish they shared one of those two lovelies instead. Ruth is ok, just rather bland. I think it could be great in the right combination… but I often find myself wishing that it was Rita, instead.
Have you considered Rue or Ruthie? To me, both are easier to say and go with more names, particularly the short and fun Rue. Just a thought.
Truth! What a good idea! That never occurred to me but I could end up loving it. Thank you very much for that idea!
That is a cool reboot of Ruth!
I have a niece named Ruah … It took me a while to warm to it but now I find it to be lovely. I’m told it’s a Hebrew word for Spirit.
My husband just said, Ruth is the truth… made me think that Truth or True could make another name option for those thinking that Ruth isn’t quite for them – and a decent virtue name too. And they could work on a boy.
Ooo, Ruah is quite pretty
I love Ruth. Growing up, a girl named Ruth was one of my best friends. But despite the name’s familiarity, I still really like it and think it has a pleasant, soft sound. It’s one of my daughter’s middles, sandwiched between Roseanna and Adeline.
Roseanna Ruth Adeline is such a beautiful name! Do you pronounce Adeline with a -lynn or a -leen at the end?
Or with a “line” on the end?
We pronounce Adeline with a “line”, although I probably wouldn’t correct someone if they pronounced it with a “leen”. I’m not much of a fan of the “lyn” sound at the end of it. We went with “line” because it works best with our last name
)
Roseanna Ruth Adeline is just lovely!
Ruth is great! My grandma and two of my great aunts are Ruths and I have always loved it. While it was pretty common back in the day I think it sounds both familiar and yet I doubt a little Ruth today would share her name with too many classmates. I also love the many, many amazing women who share this name. Even as a middle choice I think it would be lovely!
I knew a Ruthanna growing up, have never met another and like it a lot. Ruth on its own has its pluses, but tacking “anna” to it really softens it up.
I’ve always loved the name Ruth. A childhood friend of mine was named Ruth, called Ruthie. So cute. I really like Ruth Anne as a double name, which reminds me of Ruth-Anne from Northern Exposure.
Oh, I loved Ruth-Anne!
Ruth is one of my favorite names and if it was pronounced the same in German, as in English, it would be at the top of my list.
Has no one mentioned Ruthie from Seventh Heaven? That actually ruined a name I loved growing up. I loved the show as a kid but found her annoying, haha.
My husband’s grandma is Ruth, the other Ellen, and I think both are lovely choices for a middle name honorific. It’s funny, though, because walking down the halls of her nursing home, it seems just about every second or third door is home to a Ruth name plate.
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