Reuben: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “behold, a son”
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Say it
- ROO-bən · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys
From Hebrew Re'uven, explained in Genesis as 'behold, a son'. Reuben is the name of Jacob's eldest son in the Bible; Ruben is a common variant.
How popular is Reuben?
Babies named Reuben in 2024275
2024 rank#872 boys
Peak year1880
Total US babies since 188031,896
Reuben is steady now but far below its 1880 peak.
Names like Reuben
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Reuben questions
What does the name Reuben mean?
Reuben means "behold, a son". It comes from Hebrew. From Hebrew Re'uven, explained in Genesis as 'behold, a son'. Reuben is the name of Jacob's eldest son in the Bible; Ruben is a common variant.
Is Reuben a boy or girl name?
Reuben is mainly a boy's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Reuben?
275 US babies were named Reuben in 2024. Its peak year was 1880.
How do you pronounce Reuben?
Reuben is usually pronounced ROO-bən.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.