Ruthia
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially related to the name Ruth.
Name Census estimates that about 40 living Americans carry the first name Ruthia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ruthia today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruthia births was 1922 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruthia. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ruthia is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ruthias were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ruthia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
40
~ 1 in 8,568,858 Americans
Peak year
1922
7 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1971 SSA rank
#9,315
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Ruthia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruthia from the 1910s through to the 1970s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 31 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruthia 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 Ruthia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ruthias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruthia
The name Ruthia is a fascinating one, with roots that can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes of Northern Europe. It is derived from the Old High German word "hruod," which means "fame" or "renown." This name was particularly popular among the Saxons and Franks, who valued bravery and heroic deeds.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruthia can be found in the Nibelungenlied, an epic poem from the 13th century. In this work, Ruthia is mentioned as a noble warrior who fought alongside the legendary hero Siegfried. This reference highlights the name's association with valor and strength.
During the Middle Ages, the name Ruthia was commonly given to young girls in various Germanic regions, such as modern-day Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. It was often chosen by parents who hoped their daughters would grow up to be courageous and accomplished individuals.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Ruthia von Rantzau (1515-1587) gained recognition for her role in defending her family's castle during the Schmalkaldic War. Her bravery and leadership during this conflict solidified the name's association with resilience and determination.
Another historical figure who bore the name Ruthia was a 17th-century German artist and engraver, Ruthia Sandrart (1605-1688). Her intricate etchings and engravings were highly acclaimed during her lifetime, and she is considered a pioneer in the field of printmaking.
In the realm of literature, the name Ruthia appears in the works of the renowned German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. In his epic novel "Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship," published in 1796, one of the characters is named Ruthia, further cementing the name's place in German cultural heritage.
Other notable individuals who have carried the name Ruthia throughout history include Ruthia Schumann (1819-1896), a German pianist and composer who was also the wife of the influential composer Robert Schumann, and Ruthia Heine (1824-1899), a German-Jewish author and activist who advocated for women's rights and social justice.
While the name Ruthia may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and associations with courage, fame, and artistic expression remain a testament to its enduring legacy.
People
Ruthia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruthia 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
Ruthia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruthia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 40 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruthia 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 8,568,858 US residents.
Is Ruthia a common name?
We classify Ruthia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 122 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruthia most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruthia was 1922, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruthia is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ruthia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ruthia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruthia 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.
Is Ruthia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ruthia in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ruthia can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Ruthia?
You can see how many people share the name Ruthia on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.