Ruth is a Hebrew name that is usually explained as "friend" or "companion", from re'ut. The biblical Ruth, whose loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi fills a whole book of the Old Testament, made it a favorite of Puritan families, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave it modern strength. Ruth ranked 339th in the United States in 2000 and has climbed with the vintage revival, from number 291 in 2015 to number 173 in 2025.