Ruta
A feminine name of Lithuanian origin meaning "rue" or "herb".
Name Census estimates that about 265 living Americans carry the first name Ruta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ruta today is around 54 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruta births was 1964 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruta. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
265
~ 1 in 1,293,413 Americans
Peak year
1964
28 babies that year
Average age
54
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,165
Tracked since 1950
Popularity
Ruta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruta from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 123 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruta by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ruta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rutas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruta
The name Ruta is of Lithuanian origin and is believed to have derived from the plant rue, which is known for its distinctive aroma and medicinal properties. In Lithuanian, the word "rūta" refers to this herb, indicating that the name may have been initially given to individuals associated with its cultivation or use.
Ruta is an ancient name that can be traced back to the early medieval period in Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It has been recorded in historical documents and records from as early as the 14th century, reflecting its long-standing presence in the region's cultural and linguistic heritage.
While the name Ruta is primarily of Lithuanian origin, it has also been adopted and used in other Slavic and Baltic cultures, particularly in neighboring countries such as Poland and Russia. In these regions, the name may have slightly different spellings or pronunciation variations, but it retains its connection to the plant rue.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruta can be found in the historical chronicles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where it is mentioned as the name of a noble woman from the 15th century. Another notable figure bearing this name was Ruta Skvirskaitė (1568-1640), a Lithuanian noblewoman and philanthropist known for her charitable works and support of education.
In the realm of literature and arts, Ruta Peperta (1903-1994) was a prominent Lithuanian painter and graphic artist who gained recognition for her vibrant and expressive works. Additionally, Ruta Pankūnaitė (1924-2020) was a celebrated Lithuanian writer and translator, renowned for her contributions to Lithuanian literature and her translations of renowned authors like Gabriel García Márquez.
Beyond Lithuania, the name Ruta has also been used in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Lithuanian or Slavic heritage. For example, Ruta Lee (born 1935) is an American actress and dancer of Lithuanian descent, known for her roles in films and television shows throughout the 20th century.
Overall, the name Ruta has a rich history rooted in the cultural traditions of Lithuania and the Baltic region, reflecting its connection to the fragrant rue plant and its enduring presence across generations and artistic disciplines.
People
Ruta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ruta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 265 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruta going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,293,413 US residents.
Is Ruta a common name?
We classify Ruta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 322 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruta most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruta was 1964, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruta is about 54 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ruta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruta in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.