Ruth
Middle English: from the verb rue1, probably influenced by Old Norse hrygth .
wiktionary
From Middle English reuþe, ruthe, reuthe, rewthe, reowthe, corresponding to rue + -th, perhaps after early Scandinavian (compare Old Norse hrygð, hryggð(“ruth, sorrow”)).
etymonline
Ruth
fem. proper name, biblical ancestor of David, from Hebrew Ruth, probably a contraction of reuth "companion, friend, fellow woman." The Old Testament book tells her story.
ruth (n.)
"sorrow for the misery of another; repentance, regret," c. 1200, ruthe, from Old Norse hryggð "ruth, sorrow," from hryggr "sorrowful, grieved" (see rue (v.)) + Proto-Germanic abstract noun suffix *-itho (see -th (2)). Or else formed in English from reuwen "to rue" on the model of true/truth, etc. The Old English word was rue (n.2).
