Roo

♀ Girl

Pronounced ROO /ˈruː/High

Meaning: A short, affectionate name used on its own or as a nickname for Ruth, Rue, Rosalind, or Rooney. It is also, unmistakably, the name of the young kangaroo in A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, which gives it a warm storybook feel. Used for girls and boys alike.Low

In 30 seconds: One warm syllable: Roo works as a short form of Ruth or Rue (said 'ROO') — and it is the little kangaroo in Winnie-the-Pooh.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningA short, affectionate name used on its own or as a nickname for Ruth, Rue, Rosalind, or Rooney. It is also, unmistakably, the name of the young kangaroo in A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, which gives it a warm storybook feel. Used for girls and boys alike.

U.S. rank (2024)#14880 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 26

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Roo is a tiny, affectionate name — used on its own, or clipped from Ruth, Rue, Rosalind, or the surname Rooney. Its best-known bearer is fictional: Roo, the small kangaroo of Winnie-the-Pooh, which we note honestly. It is used for girls and boys alike, so we note the unisex lean (said 'ROO').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare, tiny, and storybook-warm.

Did you know? Roo is the young kangaroo in A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh, which gives the name a gentle storybook glow. It also stands as a short form of Ruth or Rue, which we note (said 'ROO').

Overall data confidence 36%

References — Roo — Short form of Ruth/Rue; Winnie-the-Pooh character

Variations

RueRu

Nicknames

Roo

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Roo…

Rue— the closest cousin in sound and spirit

Ruth— a name Roo often shortens

June— a like short, warm vintage pick

Wren— a like tiny one-beat name

Explore names like Roo

By themeunisex short nickname-name storybook

By meaningLove Youth

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Roo mean?

Roo is a short form of Ruth, Rue, or Rooney; it is also the young kangaroo in Winnie-the-Pooh.

How do you pronounce Roo?

It's said ROO /ˈruː/ — one syllable.

Is Roo a boy or girl name?

Roo is used for both girls and boys — a unisex pick, which we note.

How popular is Roo?

Roo is a very rare name in the U.S.