Amber vs Ruby
Amber and Rubycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2011, Amber was ranked #100 and Ruby #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Amber was ranked #90 and Ruby #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #90 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amber was ranked #148 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #179 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #122 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Amber and Ruby over time
Amber and Ruby appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Amber in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Amber reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ruby in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Ruby moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1998 as Amber fell out of it to #55, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Ruby moved ahead of Amber in England and Wales · Girls — #40 and #47 the year before became #42 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amber and Ruby averaged 47.2 places apart, ending at #122 and #41.
- Mirrored each other
Over 31 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Ruby rose about as far as Amber fell — from #41 and #85 in 1992 to #90 and #17 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Amber and Ruby were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 31 years, from 1992 to 2023, ending at #90 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Amber #53 in 2014, Ruby #16 in 2013.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1991–2025
Amber held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Ruby in 21.
Highest recorded here: Amber #53 in 2014, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order changed in 2005: Ruby moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #78 and #110; by 2005 that had become #70 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amber #148, Ruby #36.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1992–2023
Amber held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Ruby in 25.
Highest recorded here: Amber #29 in 2001, Ruby #1 in 2011.
The order changed in 1998: Ruby moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #47 and #61; by 1998 that had become #55 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amber #90, Ruby #17.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amber held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ruby in 21.
Highest recorded here: Amber #31 in 1998, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order changed in 2004: Ruby moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #40 and #47; by 2004 that had become #42 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amber #122, Ruby #41.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Amber held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ruby in 20.
Highest recorded here: Amber #50 in 2014, Ruby #18 in 2011.
The order changed in 2005: Ruby moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #76 and #155; by 2005 that had become #70 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amber #179, Ruby #38.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2011
Amber held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ruby in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amber #39 in 2001, Ruby #2 in 2011.
The order changed in 2001: Ruby moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #48 and #50; by 2001 that had become #39 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Amber #100, Ruby #2.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Amber | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈruːbi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ruby has a recorded origin (English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')); Amber does not have one recorded yet.
- Amber and Ruby both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ruby; Amber doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Amber
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #447 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls