The name Ruth is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew word "re'ut," which means "friend" or "companion." The name is first mentioned in the Old Testament book of Ruth, which narrates the story of a Moabite woman named Ruth who accompanies her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem and eventually marries Boaz, becoming an ancestor of King David.

The Book of Ruth is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE, making it one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruth. The name gained popularity among the Jewish community and later spread to other cultures and religions. In the Bible, Ruth is portrayed as a loyal, devoted, and hardworking woman, which contributed to the positive connotations associated with the name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ruth was Ruth the Moabite, the central figure in the Book of Ruth, whose story is set during the period of the Judges, around the 12th century BCE. Another notable Ruth from ancient times was Ruth, the wife of the biblical prophet Ezra, who lived in the 5th century BCE.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Ruth. In the early Christian era, there was Ruth, a 4th-century Roman martyr and saint. In the Middle Ages, Ruth de Guingamp was a Breton noblewoman and patron saint who lived in the 6th century.

During the Renaissance period, Ruth Amlinsky (1522-1542) was a Polish-born Hebrew scholar and poet. In the 19th century, Ruth Everard (1851-1920) was an English painter and member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

In the 20th century, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) was a highly influential American lawyer and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1927-2013) was a German-born British novelist and screenwriter who won the Booker Prize in 1975 and two Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay.