Ruby

Ruby meaning

Ruby is an international girl's name of English origin (from Latin).

The ruby gemstone; Medieval Latin rubinus, from Latin rubeus, "red"

Also used to mean: red gemstone

Ruby is the name of the deep red gemstone, long used as a girl's name. The Online Etymology Dictionary traces the word through Old French to Medieval Latin rubinus lapis, "red stone", from Latin rubeus, "red", which comes from the same ancient root as English red and ruddy. The ruby is the birthstone for July and has long been prized by jewellers; in India it is the manik of the navratna, the nine gems. Name lists give it as "red gem", which matches the source. Ruby is said ROO-bee, and it carries the same sense as Manika or Manik.

Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com) · entry ruby · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Online Etymology Dictionary, ruby

Famous namesakes

• Ruby Bridges, American civil-rights figure

Popularity abroad

• #64 United States, girls 2025 (down 2 from 62 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #38 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Ruby · Rubie

Related names

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