The name Ruby comes from the name of a red precious stone, which is the birthstone for July. The word 'ruby' derives from the Latin word 'ruber,' which means red.
Ruby is a relatively modern name. It only became commonly used as a given name in the 19th century. It rose in popularity during the late Victorian era, when a trend developed for naming baby girls after gemstones, as it was believed that the 'precious' name would bring them luck and prosperity.In England and Wales the name Ruby saw a sharp surge in popularity between 2004 - when it was the 31st most popular name given to baby girls - and 2007 when it became the most popular name given to baby girls.
The craze for calling baby girls Ruby has now begun to die down and while it still remains popular, it no longer holds the top spot and came in as the 12th most popular name given to baby girls born in 2012.
Famous people called Ruby:
Ruby Wax, comedian
Ruby Stewart, model
Ruby Dee, actor
Ruby Nash Garnett, singer in the rhythm and blues group Ruby & The Romantics
Ruby Murray, Irish singer
Can be shortened to: Rubes
Surnames to avoid pairing with the name Ruby:
Surnames beginning with an 'E' or 'Y' might cause problems, as when said aloud this combination of sounds may result in elision – when two words slurred together end up sounding like one.
It may also be wise to give this name a miss if your surname is Murray. You may think that the name is a fitting tribute to the 1950s singer Ruby Murray, but it is more likely to bring to mind the cockney rhyming slang for curry.
Similar names: Rubiana (Indian), Rubetta (Latin), Rubi (MUslim), Rubie (French) Rubina (English).
Or how about another gemstone related name such as: Amethyst, Gemma, Pearl, Amber, Emerald, Diamond, Bijou, Beryl, Jade, Esme, Esmeralda or Crystal.
Masculine variants: Reuben, Reu.
Celebrities who named their baby Ruby:
Rod Stewart, musician
Tobey Maguire, actor
Charlotte Church, singer
Gavin Henson, rugby player