boy's name
Reuben
ROO-ben
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 63,783
the United States
#885
2025 births
Reuben is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "behold, a son." It comes from re'u ben, the words Leah speaks at his birth in Genesis, and names one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Reuben is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1920, when 465 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 373 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Reuben over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Reuben is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 741 |
| 1890s | 828 |
| 1900s | 820 |
| 1910s | 3,279 |
| 1920s | 3,882 |
| 1930s | 2,269 |
| 1940s | 2,060 |
| 1950s | 2,193 |
| 1960s | 2,076 |
| 1970s | 2,548 |
| 1980s | 2,771 |
| 1990s | 2,436 |
| 2000s | 2,279 |
| 2010s | 2,359 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,649 |
What Reuben means
Reuben means behold, a son — a two-word exclamation rather than a description. The Hebrew text gives the naming as spoken words, which is unusual even among biblical names.
Where Reuben comes from
Reuben transliterates the Hebrew Re'uven, from re'u, see or behold, and ben, son. Genesis records Leah naming her firstborn with the phrase and immediately offering a second explanation — that the Lord has seen her affliction — which plays on the same verb. Reuben was the eldest of Jacob's twelve sons and gave his name to one of the tribes of Israel. The name entered English use after the Reformation, when Puritan families turned to the Old Testament, and it has remained steadily in use since without ever becoming fashionable.
Reuben in use
Our data shows Reuben stable rather than rising, peaking in 1920, at 29 in England and Wales against 885 in the United States. That thirty-fold gap is one of the widest in our records for a name that is neither a British pet form nor culturally specific.
How popular is Reuben?
In 2025, Reuben was given to 1,412 babies in England and Wales, ranking #29 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Reuben is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Reuben
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Reuben also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Reuben over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Reuben
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Reuben in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Reuben
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Reuben — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Reuben
What does the name Reuben mean?
Reuben means "behold, a son," from the Hebrew re'u ben.
Who was Reuben in the Bible?
The eldest of Jacob's twelve sons, and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Is it spelled Reuben or Ruben?
Both are used. Reuben follows the Hebrew transliteration; Ruben is the standard Spanish and Scandinavian form.
How popular is the name Reuben?
In 2025, Reuben was given to 1,412 babies in England and Wales, ranking #29 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Reuben a girl's or a boy's name?
Reuben is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Reuben?
Reuben has 2 syllables.
When was Reuben most popular?
Reuben peaked in 1920, when 465 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Reuben?
Reuben is usually shortened to Rube and Ben.
Is Reuben a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Reuben currently ranks #29 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.