Ruth 1 is a Hebrew name meaning "female friend," derived from the root reʿuṯ. In Hebrew, the name is written as Ruṯ. It appears in many languages including Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, and biblical versions in English and Latin. Ruth is the central figure of the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Ruth, a Moabite woman, demonstrates loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of Ruth's husband. She travels with Naomi to Bethlehem, where she meets and marries Boaz. Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, placing her in the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth. After the Protestant Reformation, Ruth gained popularity as a Christian name. The name also resonated with the English word ruth ("pity, compassion"), though archaic. In the United States, Ruth rose to popularity after "Baby" Ruth Cleveland (1891–1904), President Grover Cleveland's daughter. Notable BearersRuth is a widely used personal name, so it does not refer to a specific bearer beyond the biblical Ruth. However, notable modern figures include Ruth Bader Ginsburg (U.S. Supreme Court Justice) and famous actresses. Cultural SignificanceThe Book of Ruth is read during the Jewish festival Shavuot, emphasizing themes of loyalty, conversion (Ruth was a Moabite, who became a Jew), God's provision, and care for the marginalized. Ruth's statement "where you go I will go ... your people are my people and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16) has resonated worldwide. DistributionRuth has remained a standard choice in English-speaking countries and has many cognates: Rut in Spanish, Rutt in Estonian, Rhouth in Biblical Greek, Rut in Icelandic, Rút in Slovak, Ruut in Finnish, Ruta in Polish, and Rūta in Lithuanian, and many more. Kumbuka, kuna Ruthie as a nepronunciation. Meaning: female friendOrigin: HebrewType: biblicalUsage: Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, biblical languages