Rue
Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, common rue, ruda, arruda or herb-of-grace, is a species of the genus Ruta grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Mediterranean. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluish leaves, and sometimes for its tolerance of hot and dry soil conditions.
Meaning & Origin of Rue
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, common rue, ruda, arruda or herb-of-grace, is a species of the genus Ruta grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Mediterranean. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluish leaves, and sometimes for its tolerance of hot and dry soil conditions.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Rue
As a girl name
Rue first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1896, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 228 Rues were born — ranking #1,080 that year. As of 2026, Rue ranks #1,080 for girls with 228 births, rising sharply (+225% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Rues have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Rue first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1896, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 20 Rues were born — ranking #4,850 that year. As of 2026, Rue ranks #5,156 for boys with 19 births, rising sharply (+106% over the past five years). In total, more than 346 Rues have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Rue
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rue is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rue
What does the name Rue mean?
How popular is Rue in 2026?
When was Rue most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rue most popular?
Is Rue a unisex name?
What names go well with Rue?
About the name Rue
Rue is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1896 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Rue's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,080. Use the chart and map above to compare Rue's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.