Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Ruth due a comeback?

60 replies

Queenieloveforever · 21/09/2022 21:54

Wondering about the name Ruth and if it’s due a comeback. Pregnant with first daughter and really taken with the name Ruth nn Ruthie

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
FrownedUpon · 21/09/2022 22:18

I don’t like it at all. I know quite a few Ruth’s actually. We have a large Jewish community here though.

Gracelynn · 21/09/2022 22:21

Has a lovely meaning from the Hebrew “re'ut” meaning ‘friend, companion’.
Is the name of a Biblical book. A beautiful Bible story to go with it!

Which can be read here if anyone is intrested and doesn't own a Bible...
www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=RUTH&version=ICB

Love the name We have two all together in our extended family though.

mondaytosunday · 21/09/2022 22:26

I knew a Ruth from uni and didn't like her, nor her name. Plus one of my first work colleagues was a Ruth - she thought she was my boss and very obviously didn't like me. Cow. Sorry do not like the name at all.

GoofyIsACow · 21/09/2022 22:31

I know a primary age Ruth and she’s an absolute star, so I love it because it reminds me of her.

Pollywoddles · 21/09/2022 22:35

I’ve never met a Ruth I’ve liked so it’s a no from me.

IrisMac · 21/09/2022 22:36

Absolutely love it. Was on my list but had 2 boys instead!

ShirtingForkBalls · 21/09/2022 22:51

Pollywoddles · 21/09/2022 22:35

I’ve never met a Ruth I’ve liked so it’s a no from me.

I used to know a really horrible girl called Ruth. God she was such a bitch. It's a definite no from me.

Nanalisa60 · 21/09/2022 23:04

Was my lovely mums name so I like it!!

Backtonormalnow · 21/09/2022 23:08

I don’t like it at all and definitely not on a small child.

Lilacsunflowers · 21/09/2022 23:41

It does sound like a dog's bark. It's so harsh and unfeminine. And the 'th' often gets mispronounced.

whatwhhat · 21/09/2022 23:44

It's a meh name that makes me think roof and root in the same name but I don't think it's a bad name (like arlo makes me think of hello and Tom makes me think cat but the name itself is fine)

But I understand the sentiment. I love the name Mary but couldn't get past the idea of giving it to a baby (scary Mary/hairy Mary etc) Although snuck it in as a middle name!

DramaAlpaca · 21/09/2022 23:52

I really don't like it, neither the sound nor the look of it on the page.

Round here (Ireland) it gets pronounced Rute or Rutie, which is even worse.

I know three Ruths, all of whom are lovely women, but I don't warm to the name at all.

Nanny67 · 21/09/2022 23:55

My grandmother's middle name was Ruth, my mums name is Ruth and mine and my daughters middle name is Ruth.

Testng123 · 21/09/2022 23:59

I know a primary aged Ruth. Also Ruth's in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 90's. Classic name.

yikesanotherbooboo · 22/09/2022 08:15

I think Ruth fits very much in the current trend towards less frilly , traditional names eg Mary, Jane, Jean, Nora etc.
To my taste it is a bit biblical but beyond that , I like it.

wingingit33 · 22/09/2022 10:07

Horrible, unfeminine, harsh. Sorry. A middle name at a push.

wingingit33 · 22/09/2022 10:08

Reminds me of the friends episode "little baby Ruth. Oh. "

MrsBungle · 22/09/2022 10:12

I find it very prim and harsh.

kuvira · 22/09/2022 10:13

I know a couple of different ages. I wasn't aware it had ever really "gone away". It's never been one of the most popular names, to my knowledge.

I think it's fine. I'm not in love with the sound, but the Biblical meaning is nice. Be aware that a lot of Irish people and Europeans will pronounce it like "root" though.

Smallonesaremorejuicy · 22/09/2022 10:15

I really like the name Ruth … not so much Ruthie nn .. but Ru is nice .

Crikeyalmighty · 22/09/2022 10:17

How about Rachael which is in a similar vein and biblical- just think it's a bit nicer, same with Rebecca.

REP22 · 22/09/2022 10:20

It's my name! Personally I don't like it, I think it's boring and plain. At school I was called "Strewth" (Neighbours being the go-to TV show at the time didn't help with that), "Roof" or "Woof", each person thinking they were original and hilarious. Lots of my friends these days call me Roo, which I don't mind.

I was named after Ruth in the Bible. Not sure if she's a shining example to modern women. And she married a guy named Boaz.

But there are worse names in the world.

FeedMeSantiago · 22/09/2022 11:52

I know three Ruths - one is about 12, one is in her 30s or 40s and the other is in her 80s.

I know primary age children with other OT names - Jacob, Jonah, Esther, Reuben and Naomi.

So Ruth could well come back.

RuthW · 22/09/2022 12:10

inappropriateraspberry · 21/09/2022 22:17

I like it (maybe biased!) It's a pain to pronounce on the phone - everyone thinks you've said Rhys or similar, especially if you pronounce it with a 'th' sound not 'f.'

Yes this! Everyone thinks it's liz.

KirstenBlest · 22/09/2022 12:45

@inappropriateraspberry , i think you get that with a lot of names. My name is one syllable and they usually hear only the first and last letter, or the general sound. Not the name but something like Jan being heard as Anne or Nan.