Baby Name Popularity Profile

Ruth

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Ruth.

✦ Companion or friend 🌍 Hebrew biblical traditional
National Rank (2025) #173
All-Time Peak Rank #3 Achieved 1893
Total U.S. Births 836,122 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.0% Boy / 100.0% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1920s 26,102 births in 1920
πŸ’‘ The Ruth Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Companion or friend
Language Origin Hebrew
Origin Type single
Derived from the Hebrew name RΕ«αΉ―, meaning 'companion' or 'friend'.
Common Nicknames
Ruthie Roo
Pronunciation: ROOTH
Themes & Categories
biblical traditional
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Ruth

According to SSA data, Ruth achieved its highest historical rank of #3 in 1893. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1920 with 26,102 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 60.5%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Ruth across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift +60.5% Growth
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 26,102 births in 1920
Years in Top 100 82 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 5,298
1890s: 32,867
1900s: 51,010
1910s: 173,675
1920s: 218,520
1930s: 109,204
1940s: 85,666
1950s: 62,538
1960s: 34,189
1970s: 13,431
1980s: 11,204
1990s: 8,730
2000s: 9,187
2010s: 10,857
2020s: 9,746

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ruth
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with R, a letter used by only 4.7% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Ruth.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State West Virginia
Top States West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Iowa, North Dakota
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
West Virginia #362 13,104 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #195 69,817 1921 +22.9% Growth
Vermont Unranked 2,199 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #103 15,899 1920 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #35 4,084 1918 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #60 3,991 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #129 5,070 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #160 51,447 1918 +43.8% Growth
Nebraska #118 8,161 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #164 3,244 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #204 25,960 1920 9.7% Decline
Wisconsin #103 20,851 1918 +14.6% Growth
Kentucky #144 17,257 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #107 10,420 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 1,306 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #166 21,254 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #89 22,327 1918 +71.8% Growth
Delaware #217 1,873 1919 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #159 13,041 1920 Insufficient historical volume
New York #186 67,535 1918 +20.3% Growth
Arkansas #130 9,303 1918 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #283 23,700 1920 +7.1% Growth
Oklahoma #148 11,561 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #72 15,655 1916 +103.0% Growth
Maryland #175 12,640 1920 9.1% Decline
Rhode Island Unranked 3,042 1920 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #109 2,590 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #309 40,482 1918 2.8% Decline
Michigan #165 30,880 1920 +92.6% Growth
North Carolina #145 22,478 1921 +42.9% Growth
District of Columbia #187 3,499 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #158 17,618 1921 +13.3% Growth
Idaho #65 3,054 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #237 8,250 1917 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #177 8,988 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #161 14,525 1924 +17.1% Growth
Alabama #129 12,179 1924 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #91 5,110 1917 +42.4% Growth
Colorado #169 6,950 1921 +29.6% Growth
Hawaii #160 1,638 1927 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 737 1955 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #104 4,771 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #185 14,201 1918 +29.5% Growth
Louisiana #178 9,111 1925 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #122 7,818 1918 +34.1% Growth
New Mexico Unranked 2,486 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #204 29,017 1920 +36.9% Growth
California #285 30,171 1924 7.3% Decline
Arizona #269 3,574 1920 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #320 9,810 1925 +20.8% Growth
Nevada #499 571 1925 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
George Leon Louis Arthur Calvin Edward Warren Harvey Jack Lyle
πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
June Mary Annie Miriam Lucille Margaret Jean Cruz Maye John

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