Find out how popular the first name Ruthie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ruthie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ruthie is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 286 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ruthie.

The history of the first name Ruthie

The name Ruthie is a diminutive form of the feminine given name Ruth, which has its origins in the Hebrew language. Ruth is derived from the Hebrew word "re'ut," meaning friend or companion. The name is believed to have first appeared in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it refers to the Moabite woman who became the ancestor of King David.

The Book of Ruth, one of the books of the Hebrew Bible, tells the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman who remained loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. Ruth's unwavering faithfulness and devotion to Naomi became a symbol of filial piety and loyalty. The name Ruth has since been associated with these virtues.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruth can be found in the ancient Hebrew text of the Book of Ruth, which is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE. However, the name may have been in use even earlier, as the events described in the book are set during the period of the Judges, which predates the rise of the monarchy in ancient Israel.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Ruth or Ruthie. One of the most famous is Ruth the Moabite, the central figure in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible. Another notable Ruth is Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020), the renowned American jurist and Supreme Court Justice, who was a pioneer in advancing gender equality and women's rights.

Other notable figures with the name include Ruth Bell Graham (1920-2007), the wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, and Ruth Westheimer (1928-), better known as Dr. Ruth, a renowned sex therapist and media personality. Additionally, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1927-2013) was an acclaimed British novelist and screenwriter who won two Academy Awards for her adaptations of novels into screenplays.

The name Ruthie has been used as a diminutive form of Ruth throughout various cultures and time periods. It has been popular in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, but has also been used in other parts of the world where the name Ruth has been adopted.

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 Ruthie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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