Meaning & History
Rute is the Portuguese form of the name Ruth. The original Hebrew name, רוּת (Ruṯ), is believed to be derived from the word רְעוּת (reʿuṯ), meaning "female friend." In the Old Testament, Ruth is the central figure of the Book of Ruth, a Moabite woman who remained loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband's death, accompanying her to Bethlehem. There, she married Boaz and became an ancestor of King David.
As a Christian name, Ruth gained popularity after the Protestant Reformation. In the English-speaking world, it was sometimes associated with the archaic word ruth, meaning "pity" or "compassion" (still seen in the antonym "ruthless"). The name's prominence in the United States soared following the birth of Baby Ruth Cleveland (1891–1904), daughter of President Grover Cleveland. As Rut (Swedish), Rút (Slovak), or Ruthie (English diminutive), the name has many variants across different cultures.
- Meaning: Female friend
- Origin: Hebrew
- Type: First name
- Usage region: Portugal