Ruth

Ruth is a Hebrew name, most likely derived from the root meaning friend or companion, though some scholars connect it to a word meaning refreshment or satiation. It is borne by the central figure of the Book of Ruth in the Hebrew Bible, a Moabite woman celebrated for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi, which gave the name enduring significance across Jewish, Christian, and broader Western cultures. The name spread widely through Protestant Europe following the Reformation, when biblical names came into fashion, and remains in common use across English, German, Dutch, and Scandinavian traditions. The related masculine form used in Limburgish is likewise drawn from the same biblical source.