Given name & surname
Rut
“compassion”·“a beloved companion”
Rut is a form of Ruth. Interpretations include “compassion” and “a beloved companion” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Rut is a form of Ruth. Interpretations include “compassion” and “a beloved companion” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Rut is a form of Ruth. A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Rut is used as a form of RutH.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1976. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Rut is a form of Ruth. The history of Ruth gives this family its wider story. Ruth has a place in biblical naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Rut through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 846
- 0 boys · 846 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 38 babies
- 2025
- 12
- #8,769 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 12 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,769 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 38 in 2009. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,237 as a first name in 2020; 152 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rut’s family of names
In Spanish usage, Rut developed from the Latin form Ruth. In Spanish usage, Rut has a conventional equivalent in the Latvian form Ruta. In Swedish usage, Rut has an alternative spelling in Ruth.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Rut has relatives in 24 languages.
12 related names in 24 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- RutaSlovene, Latvian
- РутUkrainian
- Ῥούθgr
- РуфьRussian
- RutePortuguese, Galician
- ΡουθGreek
- ルツJapanese
- רותroot · Hebrew
Show 3 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Rut
- Rut BrandtNorwegian resistance member (1920–2006)
- Rut BrykFinnish ceramist (1916–1999)
- Rut TellefsenNorwegian actressborn 1930
- Rut RexGerman actressborn 1931
- Rut HolmSwedish actress1900–1971
- Rut HillarpSwedish poet1914–2003
- Rut Arnfjörð JónsdóttirIcelandic handball playerborn 1990
- Rut BernardiItalian opinion journalist and writerborn 1962
- Ruth ZernovaRussian-Israeli writer1918–2004
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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