Baby Name of the Day: Truett

The baby name Truett sounds virtuous and maybe entrepreneurial, too.

Thanks to Britt for suggesting Truett as our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME TRUETT MEAN?

Like Everett and Beckett, the baby name Truett started out as a surname.

Also spelled Truitt, the original version was probably Trewhitt. Recorded in England’s Northumbria, once an independent kingdom, chances are the name has Old Norse roots. That’s because Viking raiders frequently conquered and settled parts of the kingdom.

By 1066, the Norman Conquest made ended the region’s independence. 

But back to the possible meanings of the given name Truett:

• First, and most likely: Old Norse. Many suggest that it is a habitational name derived from an Old Norse word meaning dry wood, tyri, or white wood meadow. In Nordic names, the element tyr generally refers to the gods, but that doesn’t seem to be an influence in this case.
• Others note that Truett might have evolved from a Germanic surname like Treuhart. In that case, treu meant faithful or true, combined with ending -hardt, which means strong or brave. Surnames like Everard became Everett; Garrett came from Geralt. 
• Lastly, whit or wit might refer to a river bend. It’s not quite clear why or how Truett evolved from that element, and even finding an Old English word with a similar meaning proves challenging. But our word wind can, indeed, mean “to bend.” We’ve had winding roads for ages. Tread lightly if a verifiable meaning matters, but it’s possible this one holds up, too. 

FAMOUS FIGURES

What we know for certain: several notable individuals have answered to the last name Truett, in a handful of spellings.

• During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Anna Augusta Truitt served as a philanthropist, activist, and social reformer. She supported the Union Army’s hospitals and gathered supplies during the Civil War; in the post-war era, she became a leader in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
• During the 1930s and 40s, Truett Sewell played professional baseball – but he was known by his nickname Rip. 
• Appointed in 1945, writer Bess Truitt became the state of Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate. 
• George Washington Truett served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. During his lifetime, his influence spread far and wide. He delivered a famous 1920 speech about freedom of religion from the steps of the US Capitol. 

And that brings us to the most famous Truett of them all. 

S. TRUETT CATHY

Surname names have always been used in the southern United States. Sometimes they’re family names, but heroes commonly inspired a baby’s name, too. 

Samuel Truett Cathy was born in March of 1921 in Georgia, suggesting that his parents might have borrowed their son’s middle name from the respected clergyman. 

Known by that middle name, S. Truett Cathy served in World War II, then returned home to open restaurants in Atlanta. 

Ultimately, he’d take on major chains’ hamburgers by offering a chicken sandwich instead. 

His first restaurant opened in 1946. By 1967, his very first Chick-fil-A debuted in Georgia shopping mall. 

The rest is familiar: rapid growth in the South, a closed-on-Sundays policy, the super-courteous staff, the cows.

The family tends to be associated with conservative politics, and controversy has followed. Though in more recent years, they tend to walk a more cautious line.  

Founder S. Truett passed away in September of 2014. The chain’s restaurants still feature his name and likeness in their locations, meaning future parents may have seen Truett in the background for years. 

TWO TRENDS COLLIDE: TRU PLUS ETT

Even without the fast food chain, current trends favor the baby name Truett.

Names like Tru, True, Truth, Truly, and Truely have featured in the Top 1000 first names for boys and girls in the US during the 21st century. Similar surname Truman, too, has seen increased use. 

Names ending with -ett, too, are enjoying a moment. Some, like Scarlett and Juliette, are clearly feminine.

But more of them lean masculine: Everett, Beckett, Bennett, Emmett, Barrett, Rhett, and Jett all come to mind. 

Mixing the two elements together blends virtue name energy with a modern, polished, and familiar style. 

Truett’s success seems inevitable. 

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME TRUETT?

As of 2025, Tru ranks as a Top 1000 girl name and boy name in the US.

Truett only occurs on the boys’ side. As of 2025, the name ranked #521 in the US. That’s a significant leap from #648 the year prior. It only debuted in the US Top 1000 at all in the year 2020. 

MEANINGFUL MODERN

Truett’s charm lies in the combination of a virtuous meaning with tailored, mainstream style. Call your kid Valor or Bravery, and the meaning outshines all other considerations. With Truett, nickname Tru is just a bonus.

If you’re looking for a meaning-rich name with deep roots and an accessible sound, Truett might belong on your list. 

What do you think of the baby name Truett? 

First published on January 21, 2015, this post was revised on August 3, 2026.