Girls' name · since 1884

Rutha

Rutha has 2,799 recorded births since 1884 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1925 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.

#3,759 of 72,339
all-time among girls
2,799
born since 1884
1920s
peak decade

Rutha sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 2,799 recorded since 1884.

Social Security Administration records show Rutha recorded 2,799 times among girls since 1884, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 1975.

  • #3,759 of 72,339 all-time among girls
  • 2,799 born since 1884
  • 1920s peak decade

Data updated Aug 2026

The verdict

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rutha ranks #3,759 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,799 born since 1884, peaking in the 1920s.

#3,759 of 72,339
all-time among girls
2,799
born since 1884
1920s
peak decade
Above the archive median
All-time archive position

Rutha's 2,799 recorded births place it above 94.8% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.

11 jurisdictions
State-record footprint

11 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Mississippi.

Rutha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Rutha's SSA record in two at 1930 and the more recent half accounts for 60% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 40%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1885, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1925 peak of 87, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Rutha popularity over time

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–1975

Last recorded 1975
Peak year (1925)
87
Annual births at peak, across 92 years of records
020406080100 188419001911192219331944195519671975 6

Rutha by decade

1920s is the heaviest window (686 births, 25% of the file).

1920s was Rutha's strongest decade.

686 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.

Rutha births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 686 births (25% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of August 2026

How Rutha compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Rutha's total volume

Rutha vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%2%4%6%8%10% 050100150 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year -59, 4.8%-64, 4.4%-63, 3.7%-28, 5.9%-107, 7.5%-76, 2.5%-133, 2%-66, 6.9%-113, 8.1%-35, 4.8%-47, 8.2%-58, 7.7%-67, 9.4%-80, 5.4%-138, 2.3%Rutha-92, 3.1%Rutha
Rutha vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Rutha by state

Where Rutha concentrates geographically, total births since 1884

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Rutha
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Mississippi
476 17.0%
#2 Georgia
337 12.0%
#3 Florida
330 11.8%
#4 South Carolina
127 4.5%
#5 Alabama
115 4.1%
#6 Texas
83 3.0%
#7 Arkansas
81 2.9%
#8 Louisiana
18 0.6%
Mississippi share of Rutha's total US births 17.0%
Even split

476 of 2,799 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 11 reporting states.

Rutha appears in 11 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Rutha?
Rutha has been given to 2,799 babies in the U.S. since 1884, according to SSA data. Its archive ordinal is #3,759 of 72,339 among girls' names (total births, highest first). Its last appearance in the data was 1975. 87 babies were born in 1925, its single highest year.
Where does Rutha sit in the SSA name archive?
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rutha ranks #3,759 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). All-time ordinal matches browse popularity (total births DESC); the current ordinal uses the null SSA file. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
When was Rutha most popular?
Rutha was most popular in the 1920s decade with 686 total births. The single peak year was 1925.
Where is Rutha most popular?
The top states for the name Rutha are Mississippi (476 births), Georgia (337 births), Florida (330 births).
How long has the name Rutha been used?
The SSA has tracked Rutha since 1884 -- 92 years through the most recent 1975 data.
What names are similar to Rutha?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ruth, Ruthie, Ruthann, Ruthanne, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Rutha's data

  • Rutha's decade-level peak was the 1920s (686 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Mississippi records the most Ruthas (476 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Mississippi names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Rutha

Nearby Names Like Rutha

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rutha

Names with a similar number of total births

Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span

Two nationwide peer axes for Rutha: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.

Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.

Data Sources

Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1884–1975 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rutha draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.