- 3,862
- people in the U.S. have this name Get contact details for people named Ruth Johnson
Meaning & Origins
Biblical name (of uncertain derivation) of a Moabite woman who left her own people to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi, and afterwards became the wife of Boaz and an ancestress of David. Her story is told in the book of the Bible that bears her name. It was used among the Puritans in England in the 16th century, partly because of its association with the English vocabulary word ruth meaning ‘compassion’. It has always been popular as a Jewish name, but is now also widespread among people of many different cultures and creeds.
| 98th in the U.S. for 2011 |
English and Scottish: patronymic from the personal name John. As an American family name, Johnson has absorbed patronymics and many other derivatives of this name in continental European languages. (For forms, see Hanks and Hodges 1988.)
| 2nd in the U.S. for 2011 |
Nicknames & variations
Ruthie, Ruthe, Ruthy, Rutha, Ruthia, Ruthi, Ruthye, Ruthey, Ruthea, Ruthee
Johnston, John, Johns, Johnsen, Johnstone, Johnny, Johnsrud, Johnnie, Johnsey, Johnso
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