Find out how popular the first name Ruah has been for the last 15 years (from 2010 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ruah by gender

Based on the last 15 years of data, Ruah is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 93% of people named Ruah being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 22 female babies and 7 male babies born with the name Ruah.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby boys were named Ruah in 2024, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ruah

The name Ruah is of Hebrew origin, derived from the word "ruach," meaning "breath," "wind," or "spirit." It is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, where it is used to describe the life-giving breath of God. The name has its roots in ancient Semitic languages and is closely related to the Arabic word "ruh," which also means "spirit" or "soul."

In the Book of Genesis, the word "ruach" is used to describe the Spirit of God that hovered over the waters during the creation of the world. This association with the divine breath of life has given the name Ruah a deep spiritual significance in Jewish and Christian traditions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ruah can be found in the biblical Book of Ezekiel, where it is mentioned in the context of a vision of dry bones being brought back to life by the breath of God. This passage has been interpreted as a metaphor for the restoration of the exiled Israelites to their homeland.

Throughout history, the name Ruah has been borne by several notable figures, including Ruah bat Yaakov (c. 1500 BCE), a Hebrew midwife mentioned in the Book of Exodus. Another prominent figure was Ruah ben Elijah (c. 900 BCE), a prophet who is believed to have lived during the reign of King Ahab in ancient Israel.

In the Middle Ages, Ruah was the name of a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher, Ruah ben Maimon (1135-1204), who was the son of the famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides. Ruah ben Maimon made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and Jewish law.

During the Renaissance period, Ruah Abravanel (1437-1508) was a prominent Jewish diplomat and scholar who served as a confidant to several European monarchs, including Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. He is notable for his efforts to defend Jews during the Spanish Inquisition.

Another notable figure with the name Ruah was Ruah ben Yitzchak (1723-1798), a renowned Kabbalist and Talmudic scholar from Poland. His teachings and writings had a significant influence on the development of Hasidic Judaism.

The name Ruah has maintained its spiritual and cultural significance throughout history, carrying with it the symbolic connotations of breath, life, and the divine spirit.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ruah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ruah, please contact us.

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