Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Rue
GirlEnglish, Greek· “the herb rue; also regret”
- Meaning
- the herb rue; also regret
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- ROO
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,324
- US babies 2025
- 169
- Best rank
- #1,241 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Rue
Rue is an English and Greek name that means “the herb rue; also regret”.
Rue is the name of a small evergreen herb, Ruta graveolens, known for its bitter scent and yellow flowers. The plant name comes through Latin ruta from Greek rhyte. English also has an unrelated word rue, "regret," from Old English hreow, and poets played on both senses: in Hamlet, Ophelia hands out rue and calls it "herb of grace." As a given name it drew wide attention through the character Rue in The Hunger Games. It can also be a short form of Ruth or Ruby. It is said ROO.
Other spellings with the same sound: Roux.
Popularity over time
Rue first appears in US Social Security records in 1896. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,241 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 188 babies. In 2025, 169 babies were named Rue, and it ranked #1,324 nationally. That is 526% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #3,553 in 1920, #3,911 in 1950, #12,071 in 2010, and #1,324 in 2025. Of the 1,565 US girls named Rue since records began, 58% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 294 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Yaneli, Tala, Asiya, Rya, and Sama.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rue ranked highest in Utah, Washington, and Maryland.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #382 | 12 |
| Washington | #800 | 8 |
| Maryland | #820 | 6 |
| Kentucky | #851 | 5 |
| Minnesota | #972 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 93% of US babies named Rue over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Rue is usually pronounced ROO, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with R and ends in “-ue”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Roux.
Middle names for Rue
A few middle names that flow with Rue: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rue
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Lists that include Rue
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rue mean?
Rue is an English and Greek name that means “the herb rue; also regret”.
What is the origin of the name Rue?
Rue has English and Greek roots. Rue is the name of a small evergreen herb, Ruta graveolens, known for its bitter scent and yellow flowers.
Is Rue a popular name?
Not especially. Rue ranked #1,324 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Rue a boy or girl name?
Rue is mainly a girl's name. About 93% of US babies named Rue over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Rue?
Rue is usually pronounced ROO. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings