Naming your baby girl is one of the most important and precious decisions you’ll make as a parent. It’s a decision that will stay with her for her entire life, and we’re certain you’re here to know all your options!
If you have chosen Ruth as the first name for your baby girl, congratulations!
Ruth is a beautiful name with a rich history. You can pair Ruth with a classic middle name like Elizabeth or Anne, or you can choose a more unique option like Rose, Lila, or Camden. Whichever route you decide to go, we have some ideas that may help you along your naming journey!
We’ve put together a list of great middle name ideas that goes good with the first name Ruth. Below, we also share tips and tools that you can use to find the perfect middle name for your baby girl. Let’s dive in!
What Does the Name Ruth Mean?
Ruth is a Hebrew name meaning “companion” or “friend.” The meaning of Ruth can also be interpreted as “friendship” or “loyalty.” With either definition, the name implies a tenderness and generosity that makes it a beautiful name for a baby girl.
One of Ruth’s first appearances is in the Christian Bible in the Book of Ruth, where Ruth is the name of the main character. Ruth was a Moabite woman who became the great-grandmother of King David of Israel. She is known for her loyalty and devotion to her family, as well as her kindness and compassion. After losing her husband, she traveled a great distance in order to stay with her mother-in-law and care for her.
Ruth is a popular name in the Jewish community. Its meaning, “companion” or “friend,” is especially relevant to the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam, which means “repairing the world.” Tikkun Olam is the responsibility of every Jew to make the world a better place. Similarly, Ruth is also a popular name among Christians, in reverence to the biblical character who was especially devoted to her family.
In the United States, Ruth has held a steady spot in the top 100 most popular names for girls. It remains a timeless and classic name. Ruth is also a popular name in many cultures, including among English, Hebrew, German, and Scandinavian peoples.
Famous People Named Ruth
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg: American Supreme Court Justice
-Ruth Gordon: American actress, screenwriter, and director
-Ruth Hussey: American actress
-Ruth Prawer Jhabvala: German-born British novelist, short story writer, and two-time Academy Award-winning screenwriter
Choosing the Best Middle Name for Ruth
Family Ties
Many parents choose middle names from family members or friends. A few friends have named their daughter for grandmothers or great aunts who were special to them.
Elizabeth, Madeline, Charlotte, Alice, Geneva, Margaret, Ida Mae, and Anna are all names typical of a few generations ago. And they make for beautiful middle names for Ruth!
You may ask around to see if any member of your family has created a family tree or kept up with names over the years.
Maybe there are no family names that you would like to use, but what about a friend? We don’t often know our friends’ middle names, but they can make great choices for our baby’s names.
Giving your baby girl a middle name shared by a loved one or a close friend can be a precious way to honor your relationship. You could start with a list of names and consider which may be the most meaningful.
Special Places
Have you traveled to another city or country where you were mesmerized? Was there a memorable street name, water fountain, or park? It’s easy to overlook the names of these places when babies are not on our brain!
There’s a park near my house that sports walking trails, an elegant fountain, and doves that land on the pond. It’s called Shelby Park, and I think the name Ruth Shelby could go far!
Maybe there’s a favorite vacation spot, amusement park, or beach villa? Common places that inspire girl names include Madison, Savannah, Aurora, Alexandria, Georgia, and Madison.
Celebrity Names
What do you think about choosing a celebrity name as your little one’s middle name? This could be a great way to pay tribute to someone you admire or have been inspired by.
Maybe the celebrity is a TV star or actor, but it could also be an author, speaker, or philanthropist.
Is there anyone well-known whose name you have thought, “That’s a cool name!” I can’t help but think of Rachel Greene from the hit sitcom FRIENDS, but she’s only one of many!
There’s also Ally from The Notebook and Angel from Redeeming Love.
Some actresses with important roles include Scarlett Johanesson, Angelina Jolie, Kristen Bell, Elizabeth Wagner, Amy Adams, Zoe Kravitz, Natalie Portman, and Tessa Thompson.
Nature Inspired
Nature can provide a lot of inspiration for a beautiful girls’ name!
Consider the obvious ones like Lily, Daisy, Meadow, Magnolia, Sunny, and River, as well as some less known ones like Petal, Season, Sparrow, Tempest, and Vesta. There are all sorts of elements in nature, but there may also be a favorite place or area that has special meaning for you.
Consider the names of places where you like to walk, swim, or run.
What are some memorable outdoor and indoor spots of yours? Do any of them provide inspiration for a great middle name? There are also several beautiful names inspired by outer space, including Astrid, Stella, and Nova.
Favorite Books or Shows
Another option is to choose a name inspired by your favorite book or television show. This could be a great way to introduce your child to some of your favorite things.
Growing up, I loved classic books like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. Eventually, Gilmore Girls also came on the scene, and the name “Rory” became a fan favorite.
What are some shows or books that have exposed you to some wonderful names? If you want something especially unique, it’s possible that even a last name or gender neutral name could make a great middle name for Ruth.
Syllable Balance
One important element to consider is the number of syllables in each name.
For example, a name with only one-syllable names may feel too short and truncated, but a name with too many syllables could easily feel like a mouthful.
Syllable balance implies that there are various syllables in each name and it helps create an ideal balance.
The better a name flows, the easier it is to remember! I may go with a name like Ruth Marie Williams or Ruth Penelope Williams, but Ruth Jade Williams doesn’t flow as seamlessly.
It all depends on the name, but generally, syllable balance gives names a better flow!
Cadence
Lastly, an important factor to consider is cadence! This can be a great way to add flair to your baby’s name. Cadence refers to the flow or rhythm of a set of sounds or words.
It’s that special thing that makes music and words and names sound pleasing or memorable to our ears.
Cadence can be achieved in many ways, including balancing syllables as we discussed above, but the best test is to practice your daughter’s name aloud until you find a middle name that fits perfectly between Ruth and your last name!
Does it flow and sound nice together? Does it elicit feelings of happiness, peace, and completion? Then you’re on the right track!
Best Middle Names for Ruth
- Ruth Abigail
- Ruth Adele
- Ruth Adeline
- Ruth Adriana
- Ruth Alena
- Ruth Alexandra
- Ruth Alice
- Ruth Alison
- Ruth Alyssa
- Ruth Amaya
- Ruth Amelia
- Ruth Amélie
- Ruth Angelina
- Ruth Anita (little Ann)
- Ruth Annabelle
- Ruth Annabeth
- Ruth Annaliese
- Ruth Anne
- Ruth Ansley
- Ruth Antonia
- Ruth Anya
- Ruth Arabelle
- Ruth Ariana
- Ruth Ashley
- Ruth Audrey
- Ruth Aurora
- Ruth Averie
- Ruth Azalea
- Ruth Bailey
- Ruth Brigitte
- Ruth Callista
- Ruth Camilla
- Ruth Camille
- Ruth Carina/Ruth Karina
- Ruth Caroline
- Ruth Cassandra
- Ruth Cecilia
- Ruth Celeste
- Ruth Celia
- Ruth Charlotte
- Ruth Cheyenne
- Ruth Christina
- Ruth Clara
- Ruth Clarissa
- Ruth Clementine
- Ruth Colette
- Ruth Colleen
- Ruth Constance
- Ruth Corinne
- Ruth Cosette
- Ruth Daisy
- Ruth Daniela
- Ruth Delilah
- Ruth Diana
- Ruth Elaine
- Ruth Eleanor
- Ruth Elena
- Ruth Elise
- Ruth Eliza
- Ruth Elizabeth
- Ruth Ellen
- Ruth Eloise
- Ruth Elora
- Ruth Elsie
- Ruth Emerson
- Ruth Emilia
- Ruth Emily
- Ruth Emmalyn
- Ruth Estelle
- Ruth Evangeline
- Ruth Eve
- Ruth Evelyn
- Ruth Everly
- Ruth Felicity
- Ruth Francesca
- Ruth Freya
- Ruth Gabrielle
- Ruth Genevieve
- Ruth Georgia
- Ruth Georgina
- Ruth Gianna
- Ruth Gracelyn
- Ruth Haley
- Ruth Hannah
- Ruth Harmony
- Ruth Helena
- Ruth Holly
- Ruth Imelda
- Ruth Imogen
- Ruth Irene
- Ruth Iris
- Ruth Isabella
- Ruth Isadora
- Ruth Isla
- Ruth Isobel
- Ruth Ivory
- Ruth Ivy
- Ruth Jane
- Ruth Jasmine
- Ruth Johanna
- Ruth Josephine
- Ruth Juliana
- Ruth Juliet
- Ruth Juniper
- Ruth Kate
- Ruth Katrina
- Ruth Kiara
- Ruth Layla
- Ruth Leah
- Ruth Lenore
- Ruth Leona
- Ruth Liliana
- Ruth Lillian
- Ruth Liora
- Ruth Louisa
- Ruth Lydia
- Ruth Mabel
- Ruth Macy
- Ruth Madeleine
- Ruth Madelyn
- Ruth Mae
- Ruth Magnolia
- Ruth Margaret
- Ruth Margot
- Ruth Marianna
- Ruth Marietta
- Ruth Marigold
- Ruth Marissa
- Ruth Marley
- Ruth Matilda
- Ruth Melinda
- Ruth Mia
- Ruth Michaela
- Ruth Millie-Rose
- Ruth Mirabel
- Ruth Miriam
- Ruth Molly
- Ruth Naomi
- Ruth Natalia/Natalie
- Ruth Natalie
- Ruth Noami
- Ruth Noelle
- Ruth Odette
- Ruth Olive
- Ruth Olivia
- Ruth Paige
- Ruth Paloma
- Ruth Patricia
- Ruth Penelope
- Ruth Phillipa
- Ruth Phoebe
- Ruth Scarlett
- Ruth Selene
- Ruth Simone
- Ruth Skylar
- Ruth Sophia
- Ruth Sophie
- Ruth Susannah
- Ruth Sylvia
- Ruth Tamara
- Ruth Tara
- Ruth Tatum
- Ruth Theodora
- Ruth Tiana
- Ruth Torrie
- Ruth Vera
- Ruth Veronica
- Ruth Victoria
- Ruth Violet
- Ruth Viviana
- Ruth Vivienne
- Ruth Willow
- Ruth Winifred
- Ruth Winter
- Ruth Zoe
Final Thoughts
Congratulations on your newest family member! Ruth is a classic and beautiful name, and so many middle names flow nicely with it. From traditional choices like Anne or Elizabeth to more modern ones like Mae and Quinn, there are many lovely options for Ruth’s middle name.
We hope this list has been helpful in giving you some inspiration. Wishing you all the best in choosing the perfect name for your little one!
Just a note – Ruth didn’t first appear in the “Christian Bible”. She’s literally in the Hebrew Ketuvim – the Jewish Bible.