Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Ruah
Ruah
Pronounced ROO-ah /Λru.Ι/Medium
Meaning: From Hebrew ruach, 'spirit; breath; wind' (the breath/spirit of God, ruach Elohim)Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Ruah comes from Hebrew ruach, 'spirit; breath; wind' β the life-giving breath, and the divine Spirit (ruach Elohim, 'the Spirit of God', that hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation; the soft throaty 'ch' is here softened to a breath). A soft, devout, evocative name (said 'ROO-ah').
In the U.S. it appears in Christian and Jewish families. Rare, spirit-and-breath at the root, and devout.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Ruah mean?
Ruah is Hebrew for 'spirit; breath; wind' (the breath/spirit of God).
How do you pronounce Ruah?
It's said ROO-ah /Λru.Ι/ β two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Ruah a boy or girl name?
Ruah is a girl's name.
How popular is Ruah?
Ruah is a very rare name in the U.S.