Given name
Ruthie
“compassion”·“a beloved companion”
In English use, Ruthie is a diminutive of Ruth. Interpretations include “compassion” and “a beloved companion” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Ruthie is a diminutive 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
In English use, Ruthie is a diminutive of Ruth. A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Ruthie is a diminutive of Ruth.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Ruthie is a diminutive 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
Ruthie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 22,656
- 32 boys · 22,624 girls
- Most popular year
- 1927
- 428 babies
- 2025
- 349
- #781 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +85%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 349 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 781 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 84.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 428 in 1927. In 2025, Georgia had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (29). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,841 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ruthie’s family of names
In English usage, Ruthie is a diminutive of Ruth. Ruthie has a related form in Ruth.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Ruthie
- Ruthie BoltonAmerican basketball player (born 1967)
- Ruthie TompsonAmerican animator (1910–2021)
- Ruthie FosterAmerican singerborn 1964
- Ruthie MatthesAmerican cyclistborn 1965
- Ruthie HenshallBritish actress, singer and dancerborn 1967
- Ruthie Ann MilesAmerican actress and singerborn 1983
- Ruthie Morrisguitarist and songwriter for alternative rock band Magnapopborn 1964
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ruthie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“bitter”
>99% girls