Is Reuben a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Reuben is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Reuben?

It’s currently ranked #653 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Reuben?

ROO-bin · IPA: //ˈruː.bən//

Reuben Boy

Popularity: #653 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationROO-bin / /ˈruː.bən/

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: behold, a son; English: variant of Reuben

Historical & Cultural Background

Reuben is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical figure Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. The name has been used in various cultures, particularly within Jewish communities. In English-speaking countries, it gained popularity in the 19th century and has remained a recognizable name.

Trend Summary

Reuben has experienced fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Reuban
Ruben

International Variants

Reuben (English)
Ruben (Spanish)
Rúben (Portuguese)
Ruben (Dutch)

Famous people named Reuben

Reuben Sturman was a prominent figure in the gambling industry, known for his influence in the development of legal gambling in the United States.

Reuben H. Fleet was an American aviation pioneer and founder of the Fleet Aerospace Corporation.

Reuben James was a notable American sailor who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Reuben Blades is a Panamanian musician, actor, and politician, recognized for his contributions to Latin music.

Fictional characters named Reuben

Reuben is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball,' known for his quirky personality.

Reuben is a character in the book 'The Book of Reuben' by author John W. McDonald, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Sibling Suggestions

Simon Ethan Levi Isaac Noah Samuel

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Reuben was first seen in the United States in 1880. Reuben has ranked as high as #506 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Reuben has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Reuben (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
PA	26	12%
NY	22	10%
OH	16	7%
TX	14	6%
MO	13	6%
MI	12	5%
CA	11	5%
MN	11	5%
FL	10	4%
WA	8	4%
WI	8	4%
AL	8	4%
OR	8	4%
IA	7	3%
IL	7	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	92
1881	73
1882	73
1883	57
1884	82
1885	72
1886	81
1887	54
1888	84
1889	73
1890	75
1891	75
1892	89
1893	86
1894	87
1895	102
1896	90
1897	82
1898	78
1899	64
1900	86
1901	68
1902	82
1903	65
1904	71
1905	88
1906	79
1907	88
1908	102
1909	91
1910	93
1911	109
1912	220
1913	293
1914	372
1915	431
1916	441
1917	430
1918	453
1919	432
1920	465
1921	399
1922	439
1923	426
1924	435
1925	361
1926	367
1927	375
1928	303
1929	290
1930	283
1931	250
1932	248
1933	229
1934	225
1935	227
1936	209
1937	203
1938	217
1939	178
1940	190
1941	213
1942	222
1943	201
1944	204
1945	181
1946	228
1947	201
1948	213
1949	207
1950	206
1951	220
1952	246
1953	201
1954	180
1955	221
1956	220
1957	241
1958	216
1959	242
1960	251
1961	222
1962	214
1963	246
1964	236
1965	214
1966	174
1967	178
1968	181
1969	160
1970	248
1971	259
1972	231
1973	212
1974	245
1975	229
1976	269
1977	287
1978	295
1979	267
1980	294
1981	276
1982	267
1983	240
1984	255
1985	279
1986	295
1987	292
1988	274
1989	287
1990	304
1991	275
1992	249
1993	240
1994	247
1995	226
1996	225
1997	205
1998	231
1999	233
2000	214
2001	220
2002	235
2003	233
2004	225
2005	219
2006	236
2007	224
2008	223
2009	242
2010	201
2011	215
2012	215
2013	235
2014	267
2015	256
2016	250
2017	239
2018	229
2019	245
2020	246
2021	263
2022	284
2023	303
2024	275