Is a Ruby likely to be called Rube or Rubes?

[suzettenoisette]

Sorry for asking again, but I felt like my question wouldn't be noticed so much in the general thread and it is worrying me quite a bit.

We are searching for a name and the final four are Rosalind, Ruby, Keira and Annabel/Annabelle.

People have pointed out that a Ruby will be called Rube or Rubes.

I love Ruby, but I dislike Rube and Rubes. Especially Rubes reminds me of an unfortunate word :(

Does anyone know if these are common as nicknames? I personally never hear them and I don't think many girls would like to be known as Rubes. But maybe I'm wrong. Thanks again and sorry for posting twice today, but it's important to me as we are close to the final decision.

Thanks for your help, I really love this place and how much everyone has helped so far. You've been great.

My 3 year old Ruby is known as Ruby/Rue or I'll call her RuRu!

We have never as a family called her Rubes (I have the same feelings as you about the name!)

People just call her Ruby or Rue.
I have had a family member call her Rubes and a nursery worker too.
It doesn't bother me enough to say anything. It's only been said a couple of times! But it does demonstrate that the name may get shortened to that by some people.

The 2 Ruby's I know are definitely known as Ruby.
Maybe only Rube or Rubes as a very occasional pet name from close family but not a regular nickname

Its a common friendly shortening. I don’t think it will become an official name though.
Like I know a few women I call Becks day to day but would only introduce them as Becki or Rebecca.

You really can avoid unwanted nicknames. My own name has very common shortening which I hate (think Aims for Amy - not my name but you get the gist).

My family never used the shortening, I only ever introduce myself as the full name (which is short and sweet as it is) and therefore everyone who knows me only ever uses my proper name. I think in 30 odd years, only a handful of people who aren't close to me (colleagues, acquaintances etc) have ever attempted to address me by the shortening. I simply corrected them by repeating my actual name back and they never attempted again.

Basically, if you choose Ruby and only ever want her to be Ruby it's possible, as long as she's in agreement. If someone tries to call her Rubes when she's little, you correct them. If they do it when she's older and she hates it too, she'll put them straight.

No, unlikely imo- it’s only 2 syllables and 4 letters - and on the off - chance people do shorten it, surely Rue is just as likely (which is quite pretty imo).

Still much prefer elegant, much more timeless Rosalind though (and cooler namesakes in Franklin and the Shakespeare character). While it’s pretty enough, Ruby is very 2000’s to me (and if it matters, I seem to meet lots of pets with the name - basically any female red haired dog that isn’t called Belle 🤣).

Thanks, all. I don't mind Rue, it is cute.

I personally don't understand how Rubes would be affectionate, but maybe others don't hear the resemblance to an unfortunate word? It sounds like an insult to me whereas Em and Soph, for example, do not.

I guess it's nothing to worry too much about. Thanks again.

My Ruby is often called Rube or Rubes, she's 16 and it doesn't bother her at all.

Should add that if I could go back I would have called her something else, I always loved Ruby as a name and back in 2008 it was not that common but it is so so common now.

I personally don't understand how Rubes would be affectionate

Rubes sounds like pubes... so definitely not affectionate imo

I think it depends where you live. I noticed when I moved to the South West that is was really common to give nicknames like Rubes or Tills for names that originally ended in a Y sound. In some northern accents I think the original ending rolls of the tongue more easily.

We live in London, but are on a holiday visiting my parents right now.

Edit - sorry I meant to quote the post from
@WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople

Should add that if I could go back I would have called her something else, I always loved Ruby as a name and back in 2008 it was not that common but it is so so common now.

It was literally the number 1 name the previous year in 2007 and 2nd most popular name in 2008, when you had her!

It was rapidly rising from the mid 00s anyway. Then the Kaiser Chiefs released the song around 2006/2007 and it absolutely rocketed. It was definitely popular way before 2008 (31st in 2004, 12th in 2005, 4th in 2006 and 1st in 2007) You obviously weren't aware of this at the time, but the stats don't lie.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#ruby

You can't control this whatever name you pick.

My family have shortened my DD's name to a word that I didn't even think could exist (a bit like Rubes). I hate it and I tried really hard to pick a name this couldn't be done with 🤷‍♀️

I think it's hard to predict what nicknames will happen so I wouldn't let it put me off unless I disliked the most common shortening, e.g. Liz, Alex, Sam etc. My brother's friends translated his name into another language then adapted the pronunciation and that was his nickname. Very random but has stuck for over 30 years :D

The only Ruby I know goes by Bee/Bea.

I teach a few, they're all Rubes, and all the Poppy's get Popps

Once they go to school it's impossible to police nick names. Whatever name she had it's possible that she will be called something you don't like. Some nicknames don't even have any relationship with the first name.
Both my brothers are known by names my mother would never have chosen.

All the Annabelle's get Belle or Bella

Case in point!

I know a few Rubies and they are either Ruby or Ru

No, I had no idea lol.

Luckily, there were no other Ruby's in DD primary and only 2 others at her secondary school but I do know lots of younger girls with the name.

Luckily DD loves her name so I'm not too worried.

The first baby Ruby I came across was born in 1997. It was very unusual then, but I just kept hearing it more and more in the years after that.

My Ruby is called all sorts...Rubes/Rubyroo other variations by friends.
I've got to say that after 16 years I really had to think about the unfortunate word you were on about. Its never even crossed my mind, but you have made me laugh!
I do think if that's what you think automatically Ruby is not the name for you.

Of course I don't think of it when I hear Ruby. I only think of it when I hear Rubes because it rhymes with it and is obvious. Someone else pointed out that Ruby could get Rubes, I have never encountered this in real life. I just don't understand why someone would shorten a beautiful name like Ruby with such an unappealing nickname, especially when Rue and Bee exist, which are pretty.

It was me.
At school, all the girls' names got shortened. Marie was Maz, Polly was Pollz, Helen was Helz, Karen Kaz etc.

My daughters 'unappealing' nickname is actually what she likes to be called by her friends. Her choice.
Each to their own though. You don't like Rubes, I don't think a lot of Rue or Bee. Luckily we get to name our own kids!

For what it's worth, I think the names you are picking between are all beautiful and I'm sure whichever one you pick will suit your little one perfectly.