Ruby
ROO-bee /ˈruː.bi/
Meaning of Ruby
Ruby is the English word for the deep-red precious stone, from Old French rubi, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red'). Like Lily, Violet and Pearl it belongs to the Victorian wave of jewel- and flower-names for girls. After a mid-20th-century lapse, it returned strongly — driven in part by the UK market, where it has been top-10 consistently since the early 2000s.
Current popularity of Ruby
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #75 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #10 |
Notable bearers of Ruby
Ruby Bridges (civil rights activist, b. 1954); Ruby Wax (comedian); 'Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town' (Kenny Rogers, 1967).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Ruby — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31