UK girl's name
Ruchama
A feminine Hebrew name meaning "she has obtained compassion".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ruchama is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruchama popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Ruchama. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ruchama ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Ruchama.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruchama as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Ruchama mean?
The name Ruchama has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "racham," which means "compassion" or "mercy." It is a feminine name that carries a beautiful and meaningful connotation.
In the Hebrew Bible, the name Ruchama appears in the Book of Hosea, where it is given to one of the prophet Hosea's children. This biblical reference suggests that the name has been in use among the Hebrew and Jewish communities for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruchama can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions a woman named Ruchama who lived during the time of the Mishnah, the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism, compiled around the 3rd century CE.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ruchama. One such person was Ruchama Shain (1901-1975), an Israeli politician and activist who served as a member of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) from 1949 to 1955. She was known for her work in promoting women's rights and social welfare causes.
Another notable figure was Ruchama Pinson (1882-1963), a Polish-born American author and educator. She wrote several books on Jewish education and was a pioneer in the field of modern Hebrew literature for children.
In the realm of religious scholarship, Ruchama Weiss (1904-1989) was a prominent figure. She was an Israeli Torah scholar and the first woman to receive ordination as a rabbi from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Moving to the realm of arts and culture, Ruchama Noorda (1932-2019) was a Dutch-Israeli painter and sculptor known for her abstract works and contributions to the Israeli art scene.
Lastly, Ruchama Avital (1923-2020) was an Israeli composer and pianist who gained recognition for her works that blended Israeli folk music with classical European traditions.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Ruchama throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ruchama over time
The chart below shows babies named Ruchama registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ruchama, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruchama by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruchama 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 | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3970 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ruchama
- 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
Ruchama: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ruchama in the UK right now?
In 2021, Ruchama was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ruchama most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Ruchama in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ruchama?
A feminine Hebrew name meaning "she has obtained compassion".
How many people are called Ruchama in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Ruchama across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.