Namewise

Faye vs Ruby

Faye 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.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Faye was ranked #196 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Faye was ranked #80 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Faye was ranked #67 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Faye was ranked #304 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.

Faye and Ruby over time

Faye and Ruby appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Faye in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Faye reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ruby in 1. 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2005, Ruby moved ahead of Faye in Northern Ireland · Girls — #97 and #155 the year before became #138 and #51.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Faye and Ruby averaged 58.4 places apart, ending at #67 and #38.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Faye and Ruby were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #80 and #36.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Faye #48 in 2013, Ruby #18 in 2011.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #112 and #103 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #304 and #41.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 19912025

    Faye held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ruby in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #43 in 2012, Ruby #16 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2005: Ruby moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #98 and #110; by 2005 that had become #101 and #58.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Faye #80, Ruby #36.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Faye held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #105 in 2002, Ruby #1 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Faye #304, Ruby #41.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 19982024

    Faye held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ruby in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Faye #48 in 2013, Ruby #18 in 2011.

    The order changed in 2005: Ruby moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #97 and #155; by 2005 that had become #138 and #51.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Faye #67, Ruby #38.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Faye, Ruby
FieldFayeRuby
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTaken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈruːbi/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #80 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ruby has a recorded origin (English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')); Faye does not have one recorded yet.
  • Faye has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Ruby.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ruby; Faye doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Faye

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1975

    First recorded at #503 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1975–2025

    Highest recorded position: #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2012 (recorded 1975–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Ruby

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls