Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Ruth

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RUTH (1)

GENDER: Feminine

USAGE: English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Biblical, Biblical Latin

OTHER SCRIPTS: רוּת (Ancient Hebrew)

PRONOUNCED: ROOTH (English), ROOT (German) [key]

Meaning & History

From a Hebrew name which was derived from the Hebrew word רְעוּת (re'ut) meaning "friend". This is the name of the central character in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament, a Moabite woman who was the ancestor of King David. As a Christian name, Ruth has been in use since the Protestant Reformation. It became very popular in America following the birth of "Baby" Ruth Cleveland (1891-1904), the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.

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VARIANTS: Rut (German), Rut (Swedish)

DIMINUTIVES: Ruthie, Rue (English)

OTHER LANGUAGES: Routh (Biblical Greek), Rut (Biblical Hebrew), Rut (Italian), Rūta (Lithuanian), Ruta (Polish), Rute (Portuguese), Ruf (Russian), Rut (Spanish)

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