Ruby?

[mum1345]

Is this name dated now? Would she be in a class of multiple Ruby's in a few years time?!
I see it's definitely slowing down in popularity now..
I live in Kent and have yet to meet a Ruby in person and my kids go to a primary school of 600 and not come across one !
Most people see it as a very popular name but maybe it's more teenagers now?!

I think it's a really pretty name and hoping most people still do as well!

It's a lovely name. I don't think it's that popular now so unlikely to be lots of them in her school year.

I think it’s quite timeless.

Ruby had a huge peak (was the second most popular name) in 2008-09 and has tapered off since then. Because it’s in a decline phase, it feels tired to me. Not quite dated, as it’s still solidly in the top hundred but it’s one I’m personally bored of hearing. It was 34th in England and Wales in 2021 which is a level of popularity where there may or may not be another Ruby in her class, but she’ll probably know other Rubys out and about. Popularity is area dependent though, like the school posted in AIBU recently which had four Vincents in a year group. She might have no other Ruby in the school, or there might be three in her class.

School isn’t the only place she’ll share a name though, and when she’s older and in mixed age group settings like work, she’ll be alongside the decades of Rubys from the 90s onwards where it was a top hundred name all that time.

The work thing is a good point. I have a typical 80s name and although there was only one other in my year at school I now work with loads of people with my name. Honestly I can’t even count the number of people with the same name as me.

Ruby did feel incredibly popular at one point. I don’t feel like it’s timeless, it was faddy and feels like all the Avas and Evies now. But if you like it, then use it.

Ruby is lovely.

It had a massive boom in the late 00s (Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! Wohooooooooooh) but is still definitely in use today, top 30 ish I think (from 2021 stats, hard to tell currently as latest data still isn't out but I can't imagine it's lower than top 50).

Dated to me are boom names which you rarely hear at all now, not ones which are just not as popular as they were (think Miley, Alicia, Britney etc, often celebrity inspired names which literally boom and bust over a 5-10 year period).

So Ruby is one which could easily still be duplicated in school but she's unlikely to be one of several.

I'm a Primary teacher and most Rubys I know of are teens now but I know of a few at our school (approximately age 6, 9 and 10) so they're still around.

Ruby 🥰

I have a Ruby, named after a deceased relative who was born in 1910, so I agree with PP that's it's pretty timeless

More of a teenager name now

I like it, it’s sparky. Not dated at all.

That's my eldest's name, and it fits her so much.

When she was born we didn't know what to call her (the name we first had in mind didn't fit her face). But my mum in law gave me a lovely silver pendant with a ruby in it, because she was born in July and ruby is the birthstone of that month. Then it just clicked. Ruby.

My sister begged us not to because of the Kaiser Chiefs Ruby song. but we didn't care, and she has never been picked on for her name 😊

Really like it.

Yes, I know of quite a few teen Rubys. It’s a nice name though.

I know it was supposedly popular a while ago but it's not over-used now. I fact I can say I've never met a Ruby in my whole life. I think it's a wonderful name. Go for it!

I love it, long before my granddaughter Ruby was born. She’s nearly 19 now.

Lovely name 😀

I’m pleased to see that the message about popularity over time and in the workplace is getting through as it’s a drum I’ve been beating for a long time on this board, being my own experience. I never met another one of my name through school or university but the workplace is a different story. A few months ago I was in a meeting where all five of the women present had my name or a version of it.

Ruby is fine but I wouldn’t personally choose a formerly popular name that is now on its way back down 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ruby Sunday is the new Dr Who assistant so it may get a popularity boost. I like it, although she will get ‘Rubes’ a lot.

I also believe that popularity is relevant.

But picking a name that is already on its way back down seems like it could come with issues as well.
I suspect that it might "date" people. That people might (subconsciously) expect somebody older, make assumptions etc...

But I suppose that also depends on how popular the name was.

Yes, that was exactly my point…

Goodness, you´re right. Completely misread your comment.

And yes, I definitely agree with you!

I would expect a Ruby to be aged 10-20

*I’m pleased to see that the message about popularity over time and in the workplace is getting through as it’s a drum I’ve been beating for a long time on this board, being my own experience. I never met another one of my name through school or university but the workplace is a different story. A few months ago I was in a meeting where all five of the women present had my name or a version of it.

Ruby is fine but I wouldn’t personally choose a formerly popular name that is now on its way back down 🤷🏻‍♀️

I also believe that popularity is relevant.

But picking a name that is already on its way back down seems like it could come with issues as well.
I suspect that it might "date" people. That people might (subconsciously) expect somebody older, make assumptions etc...

But I suppose that also depends on how popular the name was.*

What names don't date you?! I'd say most names do.

And now there seems to be this push to have an unusual name - and they're mostly similar.😆

We are communal animals . We live in the time we live in. 🤷‍♀️

It’s a nice name.

I know three, two are 8/9 and one is about 20.

@sunglassesonthetable virtually all names will ‘date’ you. I’m saying that my name dates me as 10-20 years older than I actually am and on balance I would prefer that this wasn’t the case. The same would likely be true for a 2023 Ruby.

My son has 3 Rubys in his class of 30, they are 9/10

I love it.