Ruby

Pronunciation: [ r-OOB-ee ]

Girl Name #63 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Rarer than diamonds in nature—and making a brilliant comeback

English American

Vintage Bold Playful Earthy Bright

Meaning & Origin

"deep red, the color of passion"

Origin: Latin

Language: English

"red, ruby-colored"

Origin: Old French

Language: French

"red gemstone, precious red jewel"

Origin: Latin rubeus

Language: English

The Story of Ruby

Ruby comes directly from the English word for the precious gemstone, derived from the Medieval Latin rubinus and Latin rubeus meaning red. The ruby is one of the four precious gemstones alongside diamond, sapphire, and emerald, and has been prized since antiquity across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. As a given name, Ruby has been used in English since the Victorian era, when the fashion for gemstone names (Pearl, Opal, Coral, Jet) swept through naming culture and has never fully left.

Ruby was very popular in the early 1900s, faded through the mid-century, and has been experiencing a sustained major revival since the 2000s. It is currently in the top 20 in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, and in the top 100 in the US. Its bold, bright sound and gemstone beauty make it feel simultaneously vintage and completely modern.

The ruby's deep red color has made it a universal symbol of passion, love, and vitality. In the Bible, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 has worth far above rubies. The ruby is the birthstone for July. Dorothy's iconic slippers in The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) were changed from silver to ruby specifically to show off the new Technicolor film technology—making ruby shoes one of cinema's most iconic images.

Fun Facts

Rubies are rarer than diamonds of equivalent quality—the finest rubies from Burma (Myanmar) can exceed diamonds in price per carat
Dorothy's slippers in the 1939 Wizard of Oz film were changed from silver (as in the book) to ruby red specifically to showcase Technicolor's new red film technology
Proverbs 31:10 declares her worth is far above rubies—making ruby a symbol of exceptional value in biblical tradition

Ruby in Other Languages

Arabic ياقوت احمر

French Rubis

German Rubin

Italian Rubino

Spanish Rubi

Japanese ルビー

Famous People Named Ruby

Ruby Rose

Actor

1986

Australian actress and model known for Orange Is the New Black and the Batwoman TV series

Ruby Bridges

Activist

1954

American civil rights activist who at age six became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school i...

American civil rights activist who at age six became the first Black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960

Ruby Dee

Actor

1922

American actress and civil rights activist, known for A Raisin in the Sun and American Gangster, married to Ossie Davis

Ruby (Once Upon a Time) Fictional

Other

Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf combined into one character in ABC's Once Upon a Time, played by Meghan Ory

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #63
Total SSA Count: 3,517
Cultural Origins: English American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Rubi #1098 Rubie #3422

Common Nicknames

Rube Rue

Pairs Well With

Ruby Rose Ruby Ann Ruby Grace Ruby Mae Ruby Claire Ruby Jane Ruby Dawn

Sibling Names

Pearl Opal Jasper Violet Iris Felix Scarlett

Also a Boy Name

Ruby is also used as a boy name, ranked #5424.

View Ruby as a boy name →

Similar Names

Lillian Lillie Lizzie Ollie Lilly Rosalie Lila Lilian

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby

What does the name Ruby mean?

"deep red, the color of passion" (from Latin). "red, ruby-colored" (from Old French). "red gemstone, precious red jewel" (from Latin rubeus). Ruby comes directly from the English word for the precious gemstone, derived from the Medieval Latin rubinus and Latin rubeus meaning red. The ruby is one of the four precious gemstones alongside diamond, sapphire, and emerald, and has been prized since antiquity across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. As a given name, Ruby has been used in English since the Victorian era, when the fashion for gemstone names (Pearl, Opal, Coral, Jet) swept through naming culture and has never fully left.

What is the origin of the name Ruby?

Ruby has Latin, Old French, Latin rubeus, English, and American origins. In Latin, it means "deep red, the color of passion". In Old French, it means "red, ruby-colored". In Latin rubeus, it means "red gemstone, precious red jewel".

Is Ruby a boy or girl name?

Ruby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #63. As a boy name, it is ranked #5424. Ruby is more commonly used as a girl name.

How do you pronounce Ruby?

Ruby is pronounced r-OOB-ee.

How popular is the name Ruby?

Ruby is currently ranked #63 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Ruby?

Common nicknames for Ruby include Rube and Rue.

What are good middle names for Ruby?

Popular middle name pairings include Ruby Rose, Ruby Ann, Ruby Grace, Ruby Mae, Ruby Claire, Ruby Jane, and Ruby Dawn.

What are good sibling names for Ruby?

Names that pair well with Ruby as siblings include Pearl, Opal, Jasper, Violet, Iris, Felix, and Scarlett.

How many syllables does Ruby have?

Ruby has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Ruby a common or rare name?

Ruby is a very popular name, ranked #63 among girl names in the United States.

About the Name Ruby

Ruby is a girl name with English and American origins . The name means "deep red, the color of passion" in Latin .

Is Ruby a boy or girl name? Ruby is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #63 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #5,424. Ruby is more commonly used as a girl name.

Ruby is currently ranked #63 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Ruby has 2 syllables and is pronounced r-OOB-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Ruby include Rube and Rue. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Ruby include Rubi, Rubie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.