| Angela | Ruth | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | — | Friend, companion |
| Origin | — | Hebrew |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | — | ROOTH |
| Syllables | — | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1971 (25,901) | 1920 (26,102) |
| In 2025 | 765 | 1,781 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Angela | Ruth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6,897 | 9,746 |
| 2010s | 15,494 | 10,857 |
| 2000s | 31,319 | 9,187 |
| 1990s | 45,171 | 8,730 |
| 1980s | 116,595 | 11,204 |
| 1970s | 225,262 | 13,431 |
| 1960s | 159,294 | 34,189 |
| 1950s | 40,357 | 62,538 |
| 1940s | 12,256 | 85,666 |
| 1930s | 6,518 | 109,204 |
| 1920s | 6,273 | 218,520 |
| 1910s | 5,518 | 173,675 |
| 1900s | 1,400 | 51,010 |
| 1890s | 671 | 32,867 |
| 1880s | 232 | 5,298 |
Angela derives from the Latin and Greek angelos, “messenger, angel.” It is the feminine of Angelus and has long been popular across Catholic Europe.
Ruth is a Hebrew name usually given as “companion” or “friend.” The Book of Ruth tells of her devotion to her mother-in-law; she became an ancestor of King David.
Ruth is more popular than Angela today: about 1,781 US babies were given the name Ruth in 2025, compared with 765 named Angela.
In US records, Angela first appears in 1880 and Ruth in 1880, so Angela has the longer recorded history.