Meaning: Its source is Rut, a Hebrew name meaning "Beloved."

This name is sometimes spelled RuthAnn or Ruth Ann.

Alternative Spellings: Ruthanne

Popularity: The name Ruthann ranked 1458th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: Some authorities believe this name means ''companionship,'' and others prefer the meaning ''refresh with water.''

The Ruth of the Jewish scriptures is a character of rare, unmixed virtue. She shows devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi even after her husband's death, and follows her to the land of Israel, though she herself is not a Jew.

There she is admired by Boaz, who takes her for his wife. She gives birth to a son, Obed. From her grandson Jesse's lineage, came David, Israel's greatest king and Jesus of Nazareth.