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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ruther

Ruther

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Ruther

Pronounced ROO-ther /ˈruːðər/Medium

Meaning: Ruther is a rare American girl's name, most simply read as Ruth with an added -er syllable, a folk elaboration of the sort that appeared in early-1900s records. Ruth is a Hebrew name usually understood as 'companion' or 'friend'. A separate link to the surname Ruther or to Luther is possible but not documented.Low

In 30 seconds: Ruther is a rare American girl's name, an extended form of Ruth, which means 'companion'. It stayed scarce (said ROO-ther).
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Origin MediumHebrew, American
MeaningRuther is a rare American girl's name, most simply read as Ruth with an added -er syllable, a folk elaboration of the sort that appeared in early-1900s records. Ruth is a Hebrew name usually understood as 'companion' or 'friend'. A separate link to the surname Ruther or to Luther is possible but not documented.
U.S. rank (1964)#7600 ↘ Falling
1964 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1926
Total births (all-time)≈ 601
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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192619101964

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

Ruther appears thinly in United States records in the early twentieth century, most readily explained as a drawn-out form of Ruth, then a top name. Ruth is Hebrew for companion or friend, from the Book of Ruth. A tie to Luther is possible but unproven.

Ruther was always a very small name, cresting around 1926 with only a few dozen girls a year and vanishing from the rolls by the mid nineteen-sixties.

Did you know? Ruther seems to stretch the popular name Ruth by a syllable, a small folk twist of the kind seen in early-1900s Southern records.
Overall data confidence 48%
References - Ruther / Ruth — Hebrew Ruth 'companion'; -er elaboration; Luther link unproven

Variations

RuthRuthieRuthetteRuthe

Nicknames

RuthRuthie

Famous Bearers

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If you like Ruther…

Ruth— the popular parent name of Ruther
Ruthie— a warm short form of Ruth
Esther— a like-sounding Hebrew name
Luther— a name Ruther faintly echoes

Explore names like Ruther

By themeuncertainvintagehebrewamerican

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ruther mean?

Ruther is best read as an extended form of Ruth, a Hebrew name meaning 'companion' or 'friend'.

How do you pronounce Ruther?

It's said ROO-ther /ˈruːðər/, two syllables.

Is Ruther a boy or girl name?

Ruther is a girl's name.

Is Ruther a popular name?

No, Ruther was always very rare, peaking modestly around the mid nineteen-twenties before disappearing.

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