Roberta vs Ruby
Roberta 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Roberta was ranked #883 and Ruby #26 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Roberta was ranked #1160 and Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Roberta was ranked #344 and Ruby #259 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Roberta and Ruby over time
Roberta and Ruby appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Roberta in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Roberta reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ruby in none. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Roberta held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruby in 29.
Highest recorded here: Roberta #526 in 1996, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Roberta #1160, Ruby #41.
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1991–2021
Roberta held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ruby in 7.
Highest recorded here: Roberta #374 in 1994, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order changed in 2008: Ruby moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #374 and #450; by 2008 that had become #862 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Roberta #883, Ruby #26.
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 | Roberta | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1160 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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')); Roberta does not have one recorded yet.
- Roberta has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruby.
- A meaning is recorded for Ruby; Roberta doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Roberta
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1160 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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