NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rut

A Hebrew or Russian name meaning "friend" or "red-haired".

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.

Rut is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rut popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 7 births.

This profile covers 63 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2012 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 63 living people in the UK are called Rut. 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

  • Rut ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 7 girls were registered as Rut.
  • About 63 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rut as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2017

7 births

Estimated living

63

2026

Meaning

What does Rut mean?

The name Rut has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is a biblical name derived from the Hebrew word "re'ut," which means "friend" or "companion." The name is found in the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible, where Ruth is a Moabite woman who remains loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi and embraces the Jewish faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rut can be found in the Book of Ruth, which is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE. In this biblical story, Rut is the central character who exemplifies devotion, loyalty, and virtue. Her name has become synonymous with these qualities.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Rut. One of the most famous was Rut Lindström (1885-1931), a Swedish actress and singer who was popular in the early 20th century. She starred in numerous films and stage productions during the silent film era.

Another notable Rut was Rut Matthys (1913-2008), a Belgian artist and painter known for her abstract expressionist works. She was a prominent figure in the Belgian art scene and had several solo exhibitions throughout her career.

In the realm of literature, Rut Navon (1939-2022) was an Israeli writer and poet who wrote in both Hebrew and English. She published several collections of poetry and was awarded the prestigious Bialik Prize for Literature in 1995.

Rut Biza (born 1962) is a Spanish mathematician and educator known for her contributions to the field of mathematics education. She has authored numerous publications and has been recognized for her work in improving mathematics teaching and learning.

Rut Navarro (born 1996) is a Spanish professional tennis player who has achieved notable success on the WTA Tour. She has won several singles and doubles titles and has represented Spain in prestigious international competitions such as the Olympic Games and the Billie Jean King Cup.

The name Rut, with its biblical origins and associations with loyalty, virtue, and friendship, has been carried by individuals across various fields throughout history. While its popularity may have fluctuated over time, the name continues to hold significance and meaning for those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rut over time

The chart below shows babies named Rut registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Rut, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rut
02457201220182024

Decades

Rut by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rut 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 #3760 23 4
2010s #3827 40 7

Related

Names similar to Rut

FAQ

Rut: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rut was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Rut most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 7 babies registered as Rut in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rut?

A Hebrew or Russian name meaning "friend" or "red-haired".

How many people are called Rut in the UK?

A total of 63 babies have been registered as Rut across the 11 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.