NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Ruh

A feminine Arabic name meaning "spirit" or "soul".

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.

Ruh is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2023 to 2024. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Ruh. 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

  • Ruh ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 3 girls were registered as Ruh.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2023

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Ruh mean?

The name Ruh has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "ruh," which means "soul" or "spirit." This name carries a deep spiritual connotation and is often associated with the concept of the human soul or the essence of life.

In Persian mythology and literature, the term "ruh" is frequently used to represent the divine spark within each individual, the eternal and immaterial aspect of a person's existence. The name Ruh may have been given to individuals with the belief that they possessed a strong spiritual connection or a deep understanding of the metaphysical realm.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ruh can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet and mystic, Rumi (1207-1273 CE). In his poetic verses, Rumi often explored the concept of the soul and its journey towards enlightenment, making frequent use of the word "ruh" in his writings.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ruh. One such person was Ruh al-Din Khwarazmi (circa 1050-1150 CE), a Persian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of algebra. His work, "Kitab al-Jabr wa'l-Muqabala," is considered a seminal text in the field of mathematics.

Another prominent figure with the name Ruh was Ruh al-Din al-Amili (1617-1692 CE), a Shia Islamic scholar and philosopher from Lebanon. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on ethics and spirituality.

In the realm of literature, Ruh Afza (1847-1923) was a renowned Urdu poet and writer from India. Her poetry explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human experience, and she is regarded as one of the most influential Urdu poets of her time.

The name Ruh has also been associated with individuals in the field of art and culture. Ruh Pardahan (1925-2022) was an Iranian painter and calligrapher, known for her innovative fusion of traditional Persian art forms with modern techniques.

While the name Ruh may not be as common in modern times, it continues to hold deep cultural and spiritual significance, especially within the Persian and Islamic traditions. Its connection to the concept of the soul and the metaphysical realm has endured throughout the centuries, making it a name with a rich and profound history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ruh over time

The chart below shows babies named Ruh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2023 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 Ruh, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ruh
01223202320232024

Decades

Ruh by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruh 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 #5789 6 2

Related

Names similar to Ruh

FAQ

Ruh: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ruh in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ruh was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ruh most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 3 babies registered as Ruh in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ruh?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "spirit" or "soul".

How many people are called Ruh in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Ruh 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.