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How Many People Are Named Ruth?
Estimated people named Ruth living in the U.S. today
202,654
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 837,080
- Peak year: 1920 (26,156 births)
- Estimated living today: 202,654
Ruth by age group — who carries the name today?
Ruth popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Ruth
Ruth has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 837,080 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 202,654 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,687 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Ruths you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Ruth in the US?
An estimated 202,654 people named Ruth are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Ruth uncommon — about 1 in 1,687 Americans.
Is Ruth a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Ruth is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Ruth most popular?
Ruth peaked in 1920, when 26,156 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Ruth?
Ruth ranks #268 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 38 out of 100 (higher means rarer).