How to Pronounce Ruth
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Ruth name meaning
Last Name
15k
in the U.S.
in 2010
15k
in the U.S.
in 2010
Girls
Boys
Meaning and Origin
What does the name Ruth mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Ruth
User Submitted Origins
Hebrew
72%
English
15%
African
13%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from Zambia, the name Ruth is of African origin and means "Competition of friends companion".
- According to a user from the United Kingdom, the name Ruth is of Hebrew origin and means "Companion or compassionate friend".
- A submission from Israel says the name Ruth means "Ruth was a Moabite princess who became the great-grandmother of King David. (Reut means a friend or companion)" and is of Jewish origin.
- According to a user from Virginia, U.S., the name Ruth is of Hebrew origin and means "Companion or friend".
- A user from Zambia says the name Ruth is of Hebrew origin and means "A friend or companion".
- A submission from New York, U.S. says the name Ruth means "Friend, Beauty, Fame" and is of African origin.
- A user from Australia says the name Ruth is of Hebrew origin and means "Vision of beauty, friend, empathy".
- A submission from Oregon, U.S. says the name Ruth means "Friend of Beauty" and is of Hebrew origin.
- A submission from the United States says the name Ruth means "Friend" and is of Hebrew origin.
- A submission from France says the name Ruth means "Friend. Compassion" and is of Hebrew origin.
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Ruth
Senses
- Sorrow for the misery of another; pity; tenderness.(Poetic)"They weep for ruth."Chaucer."Have ruthof the poor."Piers Plowman."To stir up gentle ruth, Both for her noble blood, and for her tender youth." [Spenser.]
- That which causes pity or compassion; misery; distress; a pitiful sight.(Obs)"It had been hard this ruth for to see." [Chaucer.]"With wretched miseries and woeful ruth." [Spenser.]
Etymology: From Rue (v.): cf. Icel. hryggð hrygð
Other Dictionary Sources
- A book of the Old Testament that tells the story of Ruth who was not an Israelite but who married an Israelite and who stayed with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband died
- A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others
- The great-grandmother of king David whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
- United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
Wiktionary
From Ruth the Moabite, Hebrew רות, of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "companion". Also associated with the English noun ruth by Puritans.
- A book of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh.
- Synonym: Rth. (abbreviation)
- Ruth, the resident of Moab around whom the text centers.
- A female given name from Hebrew.
- A census-designated place in White Pine County, Nevada, United States.
- A census-designated place in Trinity County, California, United States.
Ruth was also found in the following language(s): Danish, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish
Notable Persons Named Ruth
Notable Persons Named Ruth
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a judge. Ruth was born on March 15th, 1933.
Bette Davis
Bette Davis was an actress. She was most active from 1929 to 1989. Bette was given the name Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5th, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. She left this life on October 6th, 1989.
Ruth Negga
Ruth Negga is an actress. She was most active from 2004 to present. Ruth was born Ruth Negga in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson is an actress. She has had major accomplishments since 2005. Ruth was born on January 13th, 1982 in Ashford, Middlesex, England.
Ruth Williams Khama
Ruth was born on December 9th, 1923 in Blackheath, London. Ruth is also known as First Lady of Botswana. She left this life on May 22nd, 2002.
Ruth B
Ruth B is a musician. Her ongoing career started in 2013. Ruth was given the name Ruth Berhe on July 2nd, 1995 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
- Ruth GordonActress
- Dinah WashingtonMusician
- Ruth LangsfordTelevision Presenter
- Ruth JonesActress
- Ruth BuzziActress
- Ruth Westheimer
- Ruth SnyderCriminal
- Ruth RomanActress
- (The Right Honourable)Writer
- Ruth EttingSinger; Actress
- Ruth Fulton BenedictAnthropologist
- Ruth BrownMusician
- Ruth PointerSinging
- Ruth HusseyActress
Notable Persons With the Last Name Ruth
Notable Persons With the Last Name Ruth
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth was a baseball player. Babe was born on February 6th, 1895 in Baltimore. He passed away on August 16th, 1948.
Betsy Ruth
Betsy was born on January 17th, 1985 in Ruskin, Florida, United States.
Dorothy Ruth
Dorothy was born on June 7th, 1921. She died on May 18th, 1989.
Roy Del Ruth
Roy Del Ruth was a film director. He was most active from 1929 to 1929. Roy was born on October 18th, 1893. He left this life on April 27th, 1961.
Nancy Ruth
Nancy Ruth is a Senator for Cluny, Ontario, and SenatorforCluny. Nancy was born on January 6th, 1942 in Toronto.
Taylor Ruth
Taylor was born on January 13th, 1905. She breathed her last breath on April 12th, 1984.
Common last names for Ruth
Ethnicity Distribution
| Ethnicity | Ruth | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| █ | White | 82.54% | 64.26% |
| █ | African American | 11.83% | 11.96% |
| █ | Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander | 0.84% | 4.85% |
| █ | American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.49% | 0.69% |
| █ | Two or More Ethnicities | 1.57% | 1.76% |
| █ | Hispanic or Latino | 2.73% | 16.26% |
Of Last Name Ruth
People with the last name Ruth are most frequently White or African American
Entire United States
Fun Facts about the name Ruth
| #23 | Most Popular Girl Names |
| #25 | Classic Girl Names |
| #4 | Old-Fashioned Girl Names |