Ruby
Ruby is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Deep red precious stone, derived from Latin rubeus meaning red.
Origin and history
Ruby is a name derived from the precious red gemstone, historically originating from the Latin word rubeus meaning red. While predominantly used for females, it has maintained a continuous presence as a rare masculine name in U.S. birth records since 1880. Today, male usage remains uncommon but steady in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
3,114 babies in the United States have been named Ruby since 1880. It ranks #2310 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1838.
States where it is most popular
- TX (23.8 %)
- KY (18.1 %)
- GA (9.9 %)
- MS (9.6 %)
- AL (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 42 |
| 1890-1900 | 120 |
| 1900-1910 | 178 |
| 1910-1920 | 504 |
| 1920-1930 | 652 |
| 1930-1940 | 523 |
| 1940-1950 | 268 |
| 1950-1960 | 153 |
| 1960-1970 | 113 |
| 1970-1980 | 86 |
| 1980-1990 | 139 |
| 1990-2000 | 137 |
| 2000-2010 | 54 |
| 2010-2019 | 56 |
| 2020-2029 | 89 |
Nicknames
Rue, Rube
Fun facts
- The word ruby traces back to the Medieval Latin rubinus, an adjective form derived from rubeus, meaning red.
- Jewel-inspired given names like Ruby, Pearl, and Opal became prominent throughout the English-speaking world in the late 19th century.
- More than 3,000 males have been recorded with the first name Ruby in official U.S. birth data since 1880.