Ruth

#173 for girls in 2025, 1,781 births · Last seen for boys in 2008 at #12,553
Given to girls 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1893 · 3,658 births
Debut · girls
234 births
In top 100 · girls
82 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
836,122
since 1880

Ruth over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201995peak #3, 1893girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1731,781—
2024#1711,787—
2023#1871,604—
2022#1791,668—
2021#1871,579—
2020#2191,327—
2019#2311,351—
2018#2611,251—
2017#2641,213—
2016#2951,103—
2015#2911,110—
2014#3051,064—
2013#327993—
2012#338931—
2011#355907—
2010#345934—
2009#354916—
2008#355929#12,5535
2007#344964—
2006#363892—
2005#347908—
2004#349915—
2003#344897—
2002#334906—
2001#326951—
2000#339909—
1999#343875—
1998#342853—
1997#333857—
1996#346802—
1995#320853#7,7926
1994#308882—
1993#308861#8,7005
1992#319855—
1991#285985#8,2365
1990#305907#5,8238
1989#273987#4,27112
1988#256997#3,52314
1987#2481,031#4,5739
1986#2381,084#3,44013
1985#2321,116#4,3339
1984#2221,165#3,70111
1983#2231,121#3,63011
1982#2221,178#2,97215
1981#2071,267#5,4686
1980#2071,258#4,4958
1979#2161,202#4,4038
1978#2121,208#3,40011
1977#2121,192#4,1648
1976#2051,198#3,26411
1975#1991,230#5,4645
1974#1951,299#5,2275
1973#2011,273#2,60614
1972#2011,383—
1971#1901,629#2,81312
1970#1781,817#2,89111
1969#1681,900#3,3148
1968#1492,151#3,1078
1967#1452,420#2,03015
1966#1282,845#2,46511
1965#1183,231#2,36612
1964#1143,640#1,97517
1963#1133,869#1,95717
1962#1044,294#1,71322
1961#964,896#2,40912
1960#974,943#1,97317
1959#975,057#2,41412
1958#905,247#2,26513
1957#845,667#1,79120
1956#776,075#2,26313
1955#706,187#1,90217
1954#666,566#2,9428
1953#626,582#2,7099
1952#576,953#1,85617
1951#537,076#2,36711
1950#497,128#2,43810
1949#477,651#1,61621
1948#457,903#2,02714
1947#448,482#1,48225
1946#388,474#1,27830
1945#338,046#1,58118
1944#328,674#1,17332
1943#339,370#1,03742
1942#339,315#1,02643
1941#288,863#1,04039
1940#248,888#1,09036
1939#229,062#86750
1938#219,303#96343
1937#159,602#88049
1936#169,217#94043
1935#159,988#87252
1934#1310,565#76265
1933#1311,136#86052
1932#1112,257#70876
1931#1113,132#80860
1930#1014,942#76570
1929#816,021#76370
1928#617,859#78668
1927#619,412#66891
1926#620,225#74973
1925#622,247#74677
1924#623,601#79771
1923#623,637#86062
1922#523,633#78073
1921#525,783#92058
1920#526,102#94054
1919#524,562#82263
1918#525,535#97547
1917#523,568#90050
1916#523,189#84055
1915#521,878#91646
1914#515,839#77746
1913#512,609#83533
1912#511,280#63543
1911#58,003#56229
1910#57,212#46135
1909#46,509#65317
1908#46,180#56620
1907#55,573#66415
1906#55,140#52319
1905#55,068#50720
1904#54,900#58715
1903#54,517#61913
1902#54,384#52117
1901#53,974#50615
1900#54,765#62316
1899#53,912#7149
1898#54,249#54315
1897#53,878#42220
1896#53,905#64112
1895#63,551#8727
1894#63,372#52115
1893#33,658#57212
1892#53,290#59712
1891#191,857—
1890#461,195#9945
1889#461,073—
1888#59850—
1887#62627#9215
1886#66581—
1885#70506#9365
1884#74442—
1883#73387—
1882#80323—
1881#84275—
1880#93234—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Ruth was already there! It came in at #93, and was given to 234 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1882, when fewer than 330 girls a year got the name.

Where Ruth is popular in 1995

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #97 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 291 girlsAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedNHWashington: #267 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,362 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #176 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 648 girlsNDMinnesota: #269 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,665 girlsMNIllinois: #336 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 1,961 girlsILWisconsin: #339 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,166 girlsWIMichigan: #446 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 3,096 girlsMINew York: #254 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 1,396 girlsNYMassachusetts: #305 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,833 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedRIOregon: #237 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,160 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedSDIowa: #325 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,026 girlsIAIndiana: #269 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,637 girlsINOhio: #311 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 2,048 girlsOHPennsylvania: #223 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 1,299 girlsPANew Jersey: #407 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,676 girlsNJConnecticut: #298 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,825 girlsCTCalifornia: #265 for girls · 170 births · 1 in 1,380 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedUTColorado: #262 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,351 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedNEMissouri: #453 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,959 girlsMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedWVVirginia: #309 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,894 girlsVAMaryland: #265 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,450 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedDEArizona: #420 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,274 girlsAZNew Mexico: #264 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,069 girlsNMKansas: #330 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,827 girlsKSArkansas: #404 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,320 girlsARTennessee: #347 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,254 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #444 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,943 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #142 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 504 girlsDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #365 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,997 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedALGeorgia: #683 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 5,116 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Ruth, so not publishedHITexas: #273 for girls · 90 births · 1 in 1,516 girlsTXFlorida: #276 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 1,619 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Alaska#97 · 1 in 291
  2. District of Columbia#142 · 1 in 504
  3. North Dakota#176 · 1 in 648
  4. Pennsylvania#223 · 1 in 1,299
  5. Oregon#237 · 1 in 1,160

Best ever in a state: #1 in Nevada, 1914.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Alaska#9791 in 291
District of Columbia#14281 in 504
North Dakota#17651 in 648
Pennsylvania#223481 in 1,299
Oregon#237141 in 1,160
New York#254771 in 1,396
Colorado#262151 in 1,351
New Mexico#26481 in 1,069
California#2651701 in 1,380
Maryland#265171 in 1,450
Washington#267211 in 1,362
Indiana#269201 in 1,637
Minnesota#269151 in 1,665
Texas#273901 in 1,516
Florida#276451 in 1,619
Connecticut#29891 in 1,825
Massachusetts#305181 in 1,833
Virginia#309181 in 1,894
Ohio#311311 in 2,048
Iowa#32571 in 2,026
Kansas#33071 in 1,827
Illinois#336371 in 1,961
Wisconsin#339121 in 2,166
Tennessee#347131 in 2,254
Louisiana#365111 in 1,997
Arkansas#40451 in 2,320
New Jersey#407161 in 2,676
Arizona#420121 in 2,274
North Carolina#444131 in 2,943
Michigan#446171 in 3,096
Missouri#453101 in 2,959
Georgia#68381 in 5,116
Alabama———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Kentucky———
Maine———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Oklahoma———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Ruth
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 2 spots since 2024 (#171 → #173)
  • 46 spots since 2020 (#219 → #173)
  • 118 spots since 2015 (#291 → #173)
  • Biggest jump: 32 spots in 2021 (#219 → #187)
  • Biggest drop: 34 spots in 1992 (#285 → #319)
Rise & fade · girls
13 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1893 at #3 (3,658 births)
  • Births halved by 1970, 77 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 39 yrs
  • Top 10: 39 yrs · run 1892–1930
  • Top 100: 82 yrs · run 1880–1961
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 45
  • Highest: 1 in 45 girls born in 1915 were named Ruth (2.2%)
  • Latest: 1 in 902 girls born in 2025 (0.11%)
  • Its best rank, #3 in 1893, was only 1 in 58 (1.7%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 26.1% of all girls named Ruth (218,520) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s5,298#46 (1889)#71
1890s32,867#3 (1893)#11
1900s51,010#4 (1909)#5
1910s173,675#5 (1918)#5
1920s218,520#5 (1920)#6
1930s109,204#10 (1930)#15
1940s85,666#24 (1940)#36
1950s62,538#49 (1950)#71
1960s34,189#96 (1961)#123
1970s13,431#178 (1970)#201
1980s11,204#207 (1981)#233
1990s8,730#285 (1991)#321
2000s9,187#326 (2001)#346
2010s10,857#231 (2019)#301
2020s9,746#171 (2024)#186

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Ruth in 1995

girls
#320
853 births · 1 in 2,062 girls
boys
#7,792
6 births · 1 in 317,284 boys

Top girls' names in 1995

  1. #1Jessica27,941
  2. #2Ashley26,606
  3. #3Emily24,382
  4. #4Samantha21,644
  5. #5Sarah21,395
  6. #6Taylor20,426
  7. #7Hannah17,018
  8. #8Brittany16,477
  9. #9Amanda16,354
  10. #10Elizabeth16,192
  11. #320Ruth853

Top boys' names in 1995

  1. #1Michael41,409
  2. #2Matthew32,882
  3. #3Christopher32,679
  4. #4Jacob31,134
  5. #5Joshua30,720
  6. #6Tyler29,161
  7. #7Nicholas29,160
  8. #8Brandon26,904
  9. #9Daniel26,728
  10. #10Austin25,908
  11. #7,792Ruth6
More about 1995

girls

1,758,548 girls got a published name in 1995; 1 in 2,062 of them was named Ruth, which outranked 98.0% of the 15,753 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ruth
  1. #317Vivian867
  2. #318Valeria865
  3. #319Marie854
  4. #320Ruth853
  5. #320Lily853
  6. #322Destinee849
  7. #323Shayla846
  8. #324Mikaela838

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1994
Risers
  1. ↑ 6,718Iridian#7,604 → #886
  2. ↑ 2,689Daija#3,615 → #926
  3. ↑ 2,119Lyric#2,752 → #633
  4. ↑ 1,910Daja#2,877 → #967
  5. ↑ 1,602Shania#2,047 → #445
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,205Nohely#896 → #2,101
  2. ↓ 1,048Zana#802 → #1,850
  3. ↓ 869Kadijah#512 → #1,381
  4. ↓ 609Clarisa#664 → #1,273
  5. ↓ 514Dayana#751 → #1,265

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,903,701 boys got a published name in 1995; 1 in 317,284 of them was named Ruth, which outranked 24.6% of the 10,330 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ruth
  1. #6,992Zavion7
  2. #6,992Zebediah7
  3. #6,992Zeno7
  4. #7,792Ruth6
  5. #7,792Aadam6
  6. #7,792Aaran6
  7. #7,792Aaronmichael6
  8. #8,868Aanand5
  9. #8,868Aaronn5
  10. #8,868Aasin5

Tied with 1,075 names at #7,792; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1994
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,703Tristin#2,307 → #604
  2. ↑ 1,494Raekwon#2,082 → #588
  3. ↑ 1,357Tristian#2,219 → #862
  4. ↑ 1,269Triston#1,795 → #526
  5. ↑ 1,186Rashaan#2,123 → #937
Fallers
  1. ↓ 469Shyheim#817 → #1,286
  2. ↓ 335Ryne#897 → #1,232
  3. ↓ 251Daulton#792 → #1,043
  4. ↓ 247Demetri#886 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 242Jerrell#917 → #1,159

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1995 →