Ruth

Ruth is a Hebrew name of uncertain but debated etymology, most commonly connected to the Hebrew root meaning companion, friend, or refreshment. It is borne by the central figure of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible, a Moabite woman whose loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi made her one of the most celebrated figures in Israelite tradition and an ancestor of King David. The name spread widely through Protestant cultures following the Reformation, when Biblical names gained strong popularity, and has remained in steady use across English, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages. Ruthe and Rut are encountered as variant forms in several European traditions.