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Ruben Boy

Popularity: #445 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationROO-ben / /ˈruːbən/

Hebrew; Spanish

Meaning

Hebrew: 'behold, a son'; Spanish: 'from the red earth'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ruben has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the biblical name רְאוּבֵן (Re'uven), which is composed of two elements: "ra'ah" meaning "to see" and "ben" meaning "son." Thus, the literal translation of Ruben is often interpreted as "behold, a son." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, a significant figure in the Genesis narrative, which dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. The name was later transliterated into Greek as Ρουβέν (Roubén) and subsequently into Latin as Ruben, before making its way into Old French and then into Middle English, where it was adopted in various forms.

Throughout history, the name Ruben has been borne by numerous notable figures, particularly within Jewish tradition. In the biblical context, Ruben is recognized not only for his lineage but also for his role in the story of Joseph, where he attempts to save his brother from being sold into slavery. The name has been carried by various saints and has appeared in religious texts, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, which contributed to its spread in Christian contexts during the Middle Ages.

Culturally, the name Ruben has been associated with themes of strength and leadership, reflecting the qualities attributed to the biblical Ruben. In Jewish tradition, the name is often linked to the idea of seeing or understanding, which resonates with the values of wisdom and insight. The diminutive form "Rube" has also been used historically, though it is less common. Overall, Ruben has maintained a significant presence in various cultures, symbolizing familial bonds and heritage.

Trend Summary

Ruben has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable presence in the early to mid-20th century.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Ruben
  • Reuben

International Variants

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

Famous people named Ruben

Ruben Studdard is a singer best known for American Idol, Soulful, and I Need an Angel.

Ruben Fleischer is a director best known for Zombieland, Venom, and 30 Minutes or Less.

Ruben Blades is a musician and actor best known for Siembra, The Mambo Kings, and Fear the Walking Dead.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a professional footballer best known for Chelsea FC, Crystal Palace, and the England national team.

Ruben Amaro Jr. is a former baseball player and executive best known for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies and as a general manager.

Fictional characters named Ruben

Ruben is a fictional character from the animated film The Lion King 1½. He is a meerkat who serves as a comedic sidekick and friend to Timon and Pumbaa.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ruben was first seen in the United States in 1880. Ruben has ranked as high as #333 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Arizona, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Ruben has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Ruben (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 159
30%
TX 143
27%
AZ 30
6%
FL 16
3%
WA 15
3%
NV 14
3%
NY 14
3%
IN 13
2%
GA 12
2%
NC 12
2%
OK 12
2%
NM 10
2%
OH 9
2%
IL 8
1%
MI 8
1%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
188030
188121
188234
188330
188428
188528
188640
188734
188821
188933
189025
189125
189244
189341
189433
189537
189649
189742
189845
189932
190050
190135
190245
190350
190438
190541
190652
190762
190860
190971
191083
191159
1912134
1913154
1914199
1915256
1916237
1917289
1918286
1919292
1920336
1921357
1922361
1923368
1924398
1925427
1926440
1927479
1928491
1929485
1930516
1931465
1932469
1933398
1934443
1935489
1936481
1937489
1938445
1939450
1940442
1941461
1942514
1943544
1944507
1945560
1946648
1947737
1948908
1949998
19501,026
19511,040
19521,095
19531,201
19541,257
19551,294
19561,371
19571,381
19581,371
19591,359
19601,358
19611,386
19621,379
19631,260
19641,348
19651,149
19661,195
19671,174
19681,138
19691,236
19701,326
19711,323
19721,321
19731,309
19741,382
19751,376
19761,361
19771,365
19781,380
19791,397
19801,487
19811,473
19821,472
19831,497
19841,374
19851,454
19861,382
19871,527
19881,594
19891,598
19901,744
19911,732
19921,805
19931,749
19941,724
19951,697
19961,663
19971,595
19981,583
19991,637
20001,718
20011,736
20021,572
20031,655
20041,601
20051,466
20061,597
20071,479
20081,356
20091,199
20101,102
2011977
2012959
2013889
2014893
2015864
2016801
2017749
2018753
2019743
2020636
2021652
2022669
2023629
2024607