Reuben
Reuben was the 889th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 269 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 149th; the most babies were born in 1920 (465). Over the last ten years it has moved down 21 places. More babies were named Reuben in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Ruben) see, a son! · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #889 boys, up 20 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 269boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1920465 babies
- Total since 1880
- 32,190babies recorded
What does the name Reuben mean?
Reuben is a spelling of Ruben, pronounced the same way, so it shares Ruben's meaning and origin.
Ruben is a form of Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. The Hebrew Re'uven is usually read as re'u ven, "see, a son". Genesis 29:32 gives Leah's explanation, a wordplay linking the name with "God has seen my affliction"; the JPS translation spells out both senses. Ruben is the Spanish, Portuguese and Scandinavian spelling.
רְאוּבֵן (Biblical Hebrew, “see, a son”)
How sure is this? Probable. 'See, a son' is the usual reading; Genesis gives its own wordplay.
Related names: Reuben, Rubén, Ruben.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ruben', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible / Tanakh, Genesis 29.32, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Ruben', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Reuben popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 45 since 1918.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #889 | 269 |
| 2020 | #909 | 246 |
| 2010 | #978 | 202 |
| 2000 | #775 | 215 |
| 1990 | #582 | 304 |
| 1980 | #495 | 294 |
| 1970 | #512 | 248 |
| 1960 | #498 | 251 |
| 1950 | #464 | 206 |
| 1940 | #425 | 190 |
| 1930 | #329 | 283 |
| 1920 | #254 | 465 |
| 1910 | #251 | 93 |
| 1900 | #212 | 86 |
| 1890 | #179 | 75 |
| 1880 | #149 | 92 |
How popular is Reuben, counting every spelling?
Reuben is a spelling of Ruben, a name family that ranked #368 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #889 for Reuben on its own. Together these spellings went to 918 boys in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Reuben?
269 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Reuben (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Reuben born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 31 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Reuben.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Reuben?
About 17,700 people born in the US named Reuben are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 18 and 56. That makes Reuben mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Reuben by state
How common Reuben was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (3.3×), Missouri (2.5×), Iowa (2.3×), Indiana (2.1×), Minnesota (2.1×). In 19 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Reuben: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Reuben, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Reuben
What does Reuben mean?
Reuben is a spelling of Ruben, which means “see, a son!” (Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Reuben?
Reuben was the 889th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 269 babies. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked 149th; the most babies were born in 1920 (465). Over the last ten years it has moved down 21 places. More babies were named Reuben in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Reuben a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Reuben in the US.
Where is Reuben most popular?
In 2021–2025, Reuben was most common in Pennsylvania (0.54 per 1,000 boys), followed by Missouri and Iowa.