Ruby is a girls' name of Latin origin that means "deep red" or "precious stone". It was originally given to gemstones made from the mineral corundum, which are typically red in color.
The name Ruby has been popular throughout history and has been used by many notable figures. One of the most famous Rubies is Ruby Slipper, the magical shoes worn by Dorothy in L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Another notable figure named Ruby was Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl who became an icon of the Civil Rights Movement when she integrated an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960.
Today, Ruby is still a popular girls' name and continues to be associated with beauty, preciousness, and strength. It has also been used as a boys' name on occasion, but it remains more commonly given to girls. Overall, Ruby is a classic and timeless name that carries with it a sense of elegance and grace.
The name Ruby seems to have had its height of popularity between the late 19th century and early 20th century, with over 50 births per year consistently from 1894 to 1929. However, it started declining in the mid-20th century, reaching its lowest point with only 5 births per year from 1957 to 1961. It has seen a slight resurgence since then, but never reaching its former heights, with an average of around 8 births per year in recent years (2016-2023). Overall, there have been a total of 3081 births named Ruby from 1880 to 2023.