UK girl's name
Rubie
A feminine name derived from the word "ruby", meaning a precious red gemstone.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rubie is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rubie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1406, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 110 births.
This profile covers 1,291 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,305 living people in the UK are called Rubie. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rubie ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 110 girls were registered as Rubie.
- • Rubie ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
- • About 1,305 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rubie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1406
2024
Births in 2024
23
Latest year
Peak year
2007
110 births
Estimated living
1,305
2026
Meaning
What does Rubie mean?
The name Rubie is a feminine given name that originated from the Latin word "rubeus," meaning "red" or "ruddy." It is believed to have been derived from the precious gemstone, ruby, which is renowned for its deep red color.
In ancient times, the ruby was highly prized for its rarity and beauty. It was associated with wealth, power, and nobility. The name Rubie may have been given to children born into affluent families or those with a reddish complexion or hair color.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rubie can be found in the 16th century. Rubie Bracegirdle, an English actress, was born in 1671 and gained fame for her performances in Restoration comedies. She was known for her remarkable beauty and was considered a trendsetter in fashion and style during her time.
Another notable figure named Rubie was Rubie Dorine Smith Robinson, an American civil rights activist and educator. Born in 1897, she played a pivotal role in desegregating schools and promoting equal rights for African Americans in the southern United States.
In the literary world, Rubie Bradford was a prominent American writer and journalist. Born in 1918, she published several novels and short stories that explored themes of race, identity, and social justice. Her works shed light on the experiences of African Americans in the 20th century.
The name Rubie also holds significance in the field of music. Rubie Hubert, born in 1933, was an American blues and R&B singer and songwriter. She is best known for her hit song "Caught You Red-Handed," which reached the top of the R&B charts in the 1960s.
In the realm of sports, Rubie Wilson was a trailblazing African American athlete. Born in 1914, she excelled in track and field events and held numerous world records in the sprinting and hurdling disciplines during the 1930s and 1940s.
While the name Rubie may have its roots in the Latin language and gemstone symbolism, it has been embraced across cultures and eras, serving as a reminder of the enduring beauty and strength associated with this vibrant name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rubie over time
The chart below shows babies named Rubie registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rubie, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 110 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rubie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rubie was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1331 | 126 | 5 |
| 2010s | #756 | 595 | 10 |
| 2000s | #964 | 548 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2767 | 22 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rubie is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rubie. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rubie ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
Across the UK
Rubie in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#808 in 2017
3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#391 in 2023
3 years of NISRA records, 10 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rubie
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rubie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rubie in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rubie was ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.
When was Rubie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 110 babies registered as Rubie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rubie?
A feminine name derived from the word "ruby", meaning a precious red gemstone.
How many people are called Rubie in the UK?
A total of 1,291 babies have been registered as Rubie across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Rubie most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rubie ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #391 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.