Ruhama
A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 144 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 6 letters and three syllables, Ruhama hits the middle ground most parents look for: long enough to feel complete, short enough for everyday use. It has been used as a girl's name in the U.S. since 1919, with 144 total recorded births.
Currently ranked #13160, Ruhama is familiar enough that people will recognize it but not so common that your child shares it with three classmates.
In the most recent SSA release, Ruhama ranks #13160 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Ruhama is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew meaning 'she has received compassion' or 'one who has been shown mercy.' In the Hebrew Bible, it appears in the Book of Hosea as a symbolic name of divine reconciliation and forgiveness.
Ruhama is a deeply meaningful name in Jewish, Christian, and Ethiopian traditions — rare in the West but resonant with grace and theological beauty.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Ruhama's final sounds are open, warm — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Ruhama follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Ruhama's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ruhama has 16+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1919.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 35 | #11670 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 88 | #11602 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 16 | #13540 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 5 | #5444 | — |
The Story of Ruhama
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2016, Ruhama is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Ruhama are most likely born between 2006 and 2024.
How rare is Ruhama?
Only about 1 in every 514,286 babies born in 2024 was named Ruhama — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 88 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Ruhama by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(16 years, 1919–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | #13160 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13204 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11991 |
| 2020 | 13 | #8323 |
| 2019 | 12 | #9014 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13546 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11448 |
| 2016 | 15 | #7912 |
| 2015 | 13 | #8854 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12931 |
| 2012 | 8 | #13228 |
| 2011 | 6 | #16394 |
| 2010 | 10 | #11087 |
| 2009 | 9 | #12256 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14824 |
| 1919 | 5 | #5444 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–2024