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Original poster

Do you find 'Ruth' harsh sounding?

61 replies

sadiemcgrady · 12/08/2009 07:09

Imagine it said with a Scottish accent

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Xavielli · 15/08/2009 21:06

I'm a Ruth. Perfectly servicable name. Although apparently we are all librarians!

Always been know as Ruthie or Roo to my family.

TiggyR · 15/08/2009 21:01

It's such a subjective thing isn't it? I love Faith, BTW, and no, not harsh.

MaggieBeauLeo · 15/08/2009 20:48

I like it.

Is Faith considered harsh too?! I don' t get the harsh thing. Jessica or REbecca sound 'harsh' imo. Ruth sounds soft.

TiggyR · 15/08/2009 20:47

I think it's a bit harsh for a baby - I would call her Ruthie. But it is a classic. Ask yourself why Beth but not Ruth, and look how popular Beth is! It depends on the local oik accent as well. In Sarf-East London Roof would not be very attractive. I wanted to call one of my children Xanthe until I told an aquaintance and they said 'Whaa? Zampfie? Where-jer-get-dat-from-nen?'

Needless to say I went off the idea.......

GrimmaTheNome · 15/08/2009 17:40

Its a very nice name. And if she turns out piratical and ruthless you just call her Nancy instead (that only makes sense if you've read Swallows and Amazons )

blueshoes · 15/08/2009 17:33

Don't like it. Sounds like a schoolmarmish.

Bleatblurt · 15/08/2009 17:17

Ruth is lovely. My best friend from school is a Ruth - she is goregous with flame red hair and is a very lovely person. So the name for me is a gorgeous one.

She is a Scottish Ruth and it does sound nicer/softer said with a Scottish accent IMO.

LilyBolero · 15/08/2009 16:24

lol at this thread, my dd is called Miriam Ruth!

MegSophandEmma · 15/08/2009 16:07

Ruth is lovely

annasmami · 15/08/2009 16:01

To me, Ruth sounds very harsh, both in English/Scottish and especially in German/Scandinavian (pronounced "Root").

mathanxiety · 14/08/2009 02:34

I have a DD named Ruth and she's always been Ruthie. I picked it because it's not fashionable and goes with any age -- she won't be a Granny Brittney, for instance.

EdnaK · 13/08/2009 10:22

Its my name and my dad always called me "Ruthless" which I liked! I've not met many other 'Ruths' of any age so at least it'll be a change from all the 'ee' girls names of the moment.

rachels103 · 12/08/2009 16:39

I think it would sound lovely and soft with a scottish accent.

Caitni · 12/08/2009 16:37

I like Ruth - as long as the "th" is pronounced and it doesn't become "Root"...am wracking my brain but can't think of a Scottish accent that does that so I think it would be lovely.

I do know a Swedish couple who named their baby girl Ruth and say it "Root" which was the first time I ever came across a pronounciation I didn't like.

MaggieBelleVirgo · 12/08/2009 16:35

My friend's little girl is Beatrice Jane which works really well imo. Beatrice very now, and quite strong sounding. Jane less of the moment, but classic and doesn't compete with Beatrice. Makes a change from Rose and May

Ponders · 12/08/2009 16:30

I love Ruth. (And Jane too. Anyone know any baby Janes?)

MaggieBelleVirgo · 12/08/2009 16:29

don't understand the 'harsh' thing.

Is faith harsh? just wondering!

i meant middle name when i said nn earlier.

MaggieBelleVirgo · 12/08/2009 16:27

in a scottish accent,, hmmm, something like hrroooth.

I like it in my own accent.

It's a lovely nn.

A roofie is a drug I think. sorry if that's been said.

frisbyrat · 12/08/2009 15:19

Always think of that Jasper Carrot skit about vomiting sounding like saying Ruth!

arolf · 12/08/2009 15:18

My best friend from school is a Ruth, and she is lovely - really one of the nicest people I know - so I love the name for that reason.

My younger sister's best school friend is Ruth too - that one is also lovely, although a bit batty.

My mum has a close friend called Ruth who is totally round the bend, but generally lovely!

They are all scottish, and I think it's a great name up north!

GreatGooglyMoogly · 12/08/2009 14:25

A bit harsh yes, and also very biblical.

skyblu · 12/08/2009 14:15

I love the name Ruth.
I don;t know anyone called it, but I think it is a lovely name.

For a younger child or baby, you could 'nickname' Roo or Ruthie if you felt that Ruth was too harsh.

mrswoolf · 12/08/2009 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Niecie · 12/08/2009 13:21

I don't think it is a harsh name, especially with a Scottish accent.

It is ime the name of serious swotty girls. At least the ones I have met. That may be no bad thing though.

And the first thing I think of when I hear the name Ruth is that appalling joke about what do you call a girl with tiles on her head? Ruth. And I don't normally remember jokes.

Actually, take no notice of me - that wasn't really relevant, was it?

Roomfor2 · 12/08/2009 13:19

Not keen. Also associate with the sick thing (sorry!) and find it very biblical (again, sorry, not meaning to offend anyone who is biblical themselves).