Funny Follows Me

Where did your name come from?

My name Ruth came from the Bible and it means, “Friend”. My whole life I hated my name because it was not common so when my family went on summer vacation, I never got a personalized mug or magnet. Now, it’s easy to order but growing up is the 70’s, I never had my name on anything.

Ruth was an old person’s name and it was also the height of sex therapist Dr. Ruth. I was about 10 years old when I understood and heard Dr. Ruth for the first time!!!

Coming from a very religious family, my name was meant to give me a religious connection to God. The Story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful one.

Later in life, I’ve learned to love my name and truly have a very small circle of friends but when God places someone in front of me who needs help, I step up and realize it’s like the self fulfilling prophecy.

I always say don’t name your kid Satan and think he is going to be an Angel because that will not work. When the show Friends went to name Rachael’s baby, Ruth was an option. Then it was mocked for being an old name and then deleted from their list when baby Ruth wasn’t liked.

Walking into a nursing home my name is used so often I used to turn my head like a chicken.

My name is starting to have a come back but I think it’s important to give your child a strong name and a family name. The name Barbie is trending this year and I can only hope in 20 years those kids get a therapist with their social security numbers. As for me, I will stick to Ruth and relish in knowing that I grew into my name and wouldn’t change it for the world.