Reuel Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REW-el //ˈruː.əl//
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Friend of God
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Reuel has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the elements "reu," meaning "friend," and "el," meaning "God." This etymological combination conveys the meaning "friend of God." The name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Exodus, where Reuel is identified as the father-in-law of Moses, also known as Jethro. The name is transliterated into Greek as "Reuel" and later adopted into Latin, which influenced its entry into Old French and subsequently into English.
Historically, Reuel is significant within the context of biblical narratives, particularly during the 13th century BCE, when Moses encounters Jethro in the wilderness. This relationship is pivotal, as Jethro provides Moses with counsel that shapes the governance of the Israelites.
The name Reuel, while not as commonly referenced as Jethro, carries the weight of its biblical heritage, linking it to themes of wisdom and divine guidance. The name's presence in biblical texts has ensured its recognition through centuries, particularly in religious contexts.
Culturally, Reuel resonates with themes of friendship and divine connection, reflecting the values of community and support found in many religious traditions. The name has been used in various literary and artistic works throughout history, often symbolizing a bond with the divine or a guiding figure.
While diminutive forms or variations of Reuel may exist, such as "Reu," the name itself has maintained its integrity and significance, representing a blend of personal and spiritual attributes that have contributed to its endurance in historical narratives.
Famous people named Reuel
In this section, you will find notable people named Reuel. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Reuel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Reuel who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Reuel Tolkien is an author best known for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.
Fictional characters named Reuel
The following list of fictional characters named Reuel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Reuel is a fictional character from the book series The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. He is a significant figure in the story, known for his wisdom and guidance to the main characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Reuel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Reuel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Reuel was first seen in the United States in 1893.
Reuel has ranked as high as #7111 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California.
In the past 5 years the name Reuel has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Reuel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Reuel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Reuel.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | 35 |
| 2024 | 27 | 27 |
| 2023 | 29 | 29 |
| 2022 | 27 | 27 |
| 2021 | 16 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 | 17 |
| 2019 | 15 | 15 |
| 2018 | 12 | 12 |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 |
| 2016 | 13 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 | 8 |
| 2014 | 14 | 14 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 |
| 2012 | 18 | 18 |
| 2011 | 10 | 10 |
| 2010 | 10 | 10 |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 |
| 2006 | 10 | 10 |
| 2005 | 7 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 | 7 |
| 2003 | 8 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 |
| 2000 | 9 | 9 |
| 1999 | 6 | 6 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 |
| 1997 | 7 | 7 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 |
| 1993 | 10 | 10 |
| 1992 | 6 | 6 |
| 1991 | 5 | 5 |
| 1990 | 6 | 6 |
| 1989 | 7 | 7 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 | 7 |
| 1983 | 6 | 6 |
| 1981 | 6 | 6 |
| 1980 | 10 | 10 |
| 1979 | 6 | 6 |
| 1978 | 6 | 6 |
| 1976 | 7 | 7 |
| 1974 | 9 | 9 |
| 1971 | 6 | 6 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 |
| 1968 | 9 | 9 |
| 1967 | 6 | 6 |
| 1965 | 8 | 8 |
| 1964 | 5 | 5 |
| 1963 | 5 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1959 | 15 | 15 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 |
| 1957 | 5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 7 | 7 |
| 1955 | 7 | 7 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 |
| 1952 | 10 | 10 |
| 1950 | 6 | 6 |
| 1949 | 8 | 8 |
| 1947 | 9 | 9 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 |
| 1944 | 10 | 10 |
| 1943 | 7 | 7 |
| 1941 | 8 | 8 |
| 1940 | 6 | 6 |
| 1939 | 7 | 7 |
| 1938 | 10 | 10 |
| 1937 | 6 | 6 |
| 1936 | 11 | 11 |
| 1934 | 8 | 8 |
| 1933 | 12 | 12 |
| 1932 | 16 | 16 |
| 1931 | 6 | 6 |
| 1930 | 7 | 7 |
| 1929 | 9 | 9 |
| 1928 | 10 | 10 |
| 1927 | 8 | 8 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 |
| 1925 | 14 | 14 |
| 1924 | 11 | 11 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 |
| 1922 | 15 | 15 |
| 1921 | 13 | 13 |
| 1920 | 23 | 23 |
| 1919 | 9 | 9 |
| 1918 | 16 | 16 |
| 1917 | 12 | 12 |
| 1916 | 11 | 11 |
| 1915 | 11 | 11 |
| 1914 | 10 | 10 |
| 1913 | 12 | 12 |
| 1901 | 5 | 5 |
| 1897 | 5 | 5 |
| 1895 | 5 | 5 |
| 1893 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Reuel (1980)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |