Reuben
How to say it: ROO-bin · /ˈrubən/
From Hebrew Re'uven, meaning 'behold, a son'; borne by a patriarch in the Old Testament.
Reuben was the 358th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 269 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are down about 19% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #373 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #358 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 269 |
| Share of births | 1 in 3,568 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −19% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #373 |
| In France, 2025 | #269 among boys’ names, 0 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Rooted long ago with a high in the 1890s, Reuben remains in solid use. Far below that high today, a slight slip is likely ahead.
What goes with it
Warm and sturdy with soft tones and crisp consonants, Reuben carries a biblical theme. Amos and Solomon complement it.
Nicknames
- Rube
- Ruben
- Ben
Honouring a Reuben in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Reuben is about 1 in 149.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
In France: #269 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #29. Ireland: #158.
Famous people named Reuben
- Reuben Fine (1914–1993)American chess player and psychologist
- Reuben Gabriel (born 1990)Nigerian footballer
- Reuben Kosgei (born 1979)Kenyan athletics competitor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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