How Many People Are Named Ruth?
Complete statistics for the name Ruth: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Ruth means 'compassion' in Hebrew, making it a name rich in empathy and care. That's 1 in 1,485 Americans named Ruth, totaling 222,188 people today. With 92% over 60, Ruth's popularity peaks among older generations.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 22 symbolizes a powerful blend of vision and leadership, indicating someone who can turn dreams into reality.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 94All 836,846 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1920Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Ruth Through the Generations
Ruth, a name steeped in compassion and tradition, has seen its highest birth rate in 1920 with 26,156 babies born that year. Today, it's a classic, old-school name that's rising again in popularity. The majority of people named Ruth are over 60, with 765,930 individuals in this age group, reflecting a strong generational skew towards older Americans.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Ruth
Ruth is a common female given name, noted from Ruth, the eponymous heroine of the Book of Ruth.…
Full list on Wikipedia →📄 About the Name Ruth
How Many People Have the Name Ruth?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 14,156 people in the United States currently share the name Ruth. That works out to roughly 1 in every 23,414 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Ruth a Common or Rare Name?
Ruth is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Ruth in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Ruth Most Popular?
The name Ruth reached peak popularity in 1920, with 26,156 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Ruth?
Approximately 14,156 people named Ruth live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 14,156. That works out to roughly 1 in 23,414 Americans.
Is Ruth a rare name?
Ruth is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 23,414 Americans has this name.
What does the name Ruth mean?
The meaning and origin of Ruth are shown in the Meaning & Origin section on this page.
Is Ruth more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Ruth are male and 100% are female.
When was Ruth most popular?
Ruth peaked in 1920 with 26,156 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.