US Popularity Rank: 21808

Origin: Chinese

Meaning: Friend, companion; Scholar; To eat

Roo is a gender-neutral name with a chipper chime. This cute and concise appellation is considered a respelling of Rue and Ru, giving Roo a versatile appeal. Often associated with Hebrew Ruth, Rue and Roo take on the meanings “friend” and “companion.” This warm sentiment is amplified by Roo’s connection to Winnie the Pooh, as the name is given to one of Pooh’s beloved friends, a young kangaroo. As a form of Chinese Ru, Roo can mean “scholar,” “to eat,” and more, depending on the characters used to spell it. Roo can also be a nickname for any name that begins with “Ru-” or “Roo-,” like Roofus, Ruann, Roody, Ruby, and Ruben.