Ruby
Say it: ROO-bee
GirlMeans the red gemstone4 letters2 syllables
#36
in Ireland (2025)
#37 with spellings combined
119
babies in 2025
#16
best rank (2013)
4,637
babies since 1991
Down 10
10-year rank change
Ruby through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 119 | #37 |
| 2024 | 134 | #32 |
| 2023 | 126 | #39 |
| 2022 | 140 | #40 |
| 2021 | 180 | #26 |
| 2020 | 142 | #34 |
| 2019 | 182 | #29 |
| 2018 | 168 | #33 |
| 2017 | 169 | #33 |
| 2016 | 186 | #32 |
| 2015 | 211 | #27 |
| 2014 | 265 | #22 |
| 2013 | 317 | #16 |
| 2012 | 302 | #20 |
| 2011 | 323 | #20 |
| 2010 | 325 | #23 |
| 2009 | 353 | #17 |
| 2008 | 305 | #21 |
| 2007 | 222 | #34 |
| 2006 | 158 | #41 |
| 2005 | 99 | #58 |
| 2004 | 46 | #110 |
| 2003 | 42 | #118 |
| 2002 | 24 | #162 |
| 2001 | 24 | #166 |
| 2000 | 15 | #227 |
| 1999 | 12 | #245 |
| 1998 | 17 | #192 |
| 1997 | 10 | #304 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 5 | #417 |
| 1994 | 4 | #450 |
| 1992 | 3 | #522 |
| 1991 | 3 | #515 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Ruby mean?
The red gemstone
English, from the gemstone, whose name comes from Latin rubinus (red).
Say it right
ROObee
The story of Ruby
Ruby is one of the jewel names that English speakers took up in the nineteenth century. The stone’s name goes back to Latin rubinus, meaning red. The ruby is also the traditional birthstone for July.
In Ireland Ruby first appears in the CSO records in 1991. It grew quickly through the 2000s and reached number 16 in 2013. Its busiest year was 2009, with 353 babies.
It has held on better in Northern Ireland, where it ranked 23rd in 2025, well ahead of its place in the Republic.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ruby (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Ruby (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby | 119 | 4,637 |
In Northern Ireland
#23 in 2025 with 55 babies. Best rank #18 (2011); 1,812 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.