"red, ruby-colored"
Origin: Old French
Language: French
Ruby
Pronunciation: [ r-OOB-ee ]
Does Ruby flow with your last name?
Rarer than diamonds in nature—and making a brilliant comeback
English
American
Vintage
Bold
Playful
Earthy
Bright
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"deep red, the color of passion"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
"red gemstone, precious red jewel"
Origin: Latin rubeus
Language: English
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The Story of Ruby
Ruby comes directly from the English word for the precious gemstone, derived from the Medieval Latin rubinus and Latin rubeus meaning red. The ruby is one of the four precious gemstones alongside diamond, sapphire, and emerald, and has been prized since antiquity across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. As a given name, Ruby has been used in English since the Victorian era, when the fashion for gemstone names (Pearl, Opal, Coral, Jet) swept through naming culture and has never fully left.
Ruby was very popular in the early 1900s, faded through the mid-century, and has been experiencing a sustained major revival since the 2000s. It is currently in the top 20 in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and in the top 100 in the US. Its bold, bright sound and gemstone beauty make it feel simultaneously vintage and completely modern.
The ruby's deep red color has made it a universal symbol of passion, love, and vitality. In the Bible, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 has worth far above rubies. The ruby is the birthstone for July. Dorothy's iconic slippers in The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) were changed from silver to ruby specifically to show off the new Technicolor film technology—making ruby shoes one of cinema's most iconic images.
Historical Record
Ruby first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 126,933 babies have been named Ruby in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ruby is a steady classic , currently ranked #63 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Rubies are rarer than diamonds of equivalent quality—the finest rubies from Burma (Myanmar) can exceed diamonds in price per carat
- Dorothy's slippers in the 1939 Wizard of Oz film were changed from silver (as in the book) to ruby red specifically to showcase Technicolor's new red film technology
- Proverbs 31:10 declares her worth is far above rubies—making ruby a symbol of exceptional value in biblical tradition
Ruby in Other Languages
Arabic
ياقوت احمر
French
Rubis
German
Rubin
Italian
Rubino
Spanish
Rubi
Japanese
ルビー
Popularity Over Time
#63
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Steady Classic
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ruby
R
Ruby Rose
Actor
1986
Australian actress and model known for Orange Is the New Black and the Batwoman TV series
R
Ruby Bridges
Activist
1954
American civil rights activist who at age six became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school i...
American civil rights activist who at age six became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960
R
Ruby Dee
Actor
1922
American actress and civil rights activist, known for A Raisin in the Sun and American Gangster, married to Ossie Davis
R
Ruby (Once Upon a Time) Fictional
Other
Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf combined into one character in ABC's Once Upon a Time, played by Meghan Ory
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Compare Ruby with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #63
- Total SSA Count
- 3,517
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Rube
Rue
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ruby
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Ruby is also used as a boy name, ranked #5424.
View Ruby as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Ruby →Compare Ruby with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Ruby
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Ancient Greek origin
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Greek origin
"farmer, earth worker"
#110 in US
Ailany
Girl
Hawaiian origin
"chief, royalty"
#101 in US
Hallie
Girl
Old Norse haela origin
"hero, praise (Scandinavian variant)"
#149 in US
Juniper
Girl
Latin origin
"youth-producing, ever-young"
#111 in US
Sophia
Girl
Byzantine Christian tradition origin
"divine wisdom"
#6 in US
Julia
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Latin origin
"of the Julian family (Gens Julia)"
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Yoruba origin
"pamper me, take care of me"
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby
What does the name Ruby mean?
"red, ruby-colored" (from Old French). "deep red, the color of passion" (from Latin). "red gemstone, precious red jewel" (from Latin rubeus). Ruby comes directly from the English word for the precious gemstone, derived from the Medieval Latin rubinus and Latin rubeus meaning red. The ruby is one of the four precious gemstones alongside diamond, sapphire, and emerald, and has been prized since antiquity across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. As a given name, Ruby has been used in English since the Victorian era, when the fashion for gemstone names (Pearl, Opal, Coral, Jet) swept through naming culture and has never fully left.
What is the origin of the name Ruby?
Ruby has Old French, Latin, Latin rubeus, English, and American origins. In Old French, it means "red, ruby-colored". In Latin, it means "deep red, the color of passion". In Latin rubeus, it means "red gemstone, precious red jewel".
Is Ruby a boy or girl name?
Ruby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #63. As a boy name, it is ranked #5424. Ruby is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Ruby?
Ruby is pronounced r-OOB-ee.
How popular is the name Ruby?
Ruby is currently ranked #63 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Ruby?
Common nicknames for Ruby include Rube and Rue.
What are good middle names for Ruby?
Popular middle name pairings include Ruby Rose, Ruby Ann, Ruby Grace, Ruby Mae, Ruby Claire, Ruby Jane, and Ruby Dawn.
What are good sibling names for Ruby?
Names that pair well with Ruby as siblings include Pearl, Opal, Jasper, Violet, Iris, Felix, and Scarlett.
How many syllables does Ruby have?
Ruby has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Ruby a common or rare name?
Ruby is a very popular name, ranked #63 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Ruby?
About the Name Ruby
Ruby is a girl name with English and American origins . The name means "red, ruby-colored" in Old French .
Is Ruby a boy or girl name? Ruby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #63 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #5,424. Ruby is more commonly used as a girl name.
Ruby is currently ranked #63 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ruby has 2 syllables and is pronounced r-OOB-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Ruby include Rube and Rue. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Ruby include Rubi, Rubie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis