Reuben
Reuben: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɹuː.bən/ · /ˈɹu.bən/
Meaning and origin of Reuben
- A male given name from Hebrew.
- A surname transferred from the given name
Etymology
From Hebrew רְאוּבֵן (r'uvén), from רְאוּ (r'ú, “see [masculine plural imperative]”) + בֵּן (ben, “son”); its literal meaning is therefore roughly, "See, all: a son!" * There are several unconfirmed etymologies for the name of the sandwich.
How popular is Reuben?
Since 1880, 45 girls and 32,145 boys in the U.S. have been named Reuben (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4743 in 1926. Its highest rank for boys was #149 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #889 for boys, with 269 babies given the name.
Names similar to Reuben
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Reuben
Sister and brother names that share Reuben's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Reuben FAQ
What does the name Reuben mean?
A male given name from Hebrew. A surname transferred from the given name From Hebrew רְאוּבֵן (r'uvén), from רְאוּ (r'ú, “see [masculine plural imperative]”) + בֵּן (ben, “son”); its literal meaning is therefore roughly, "See, all: a son!" * There are several unconfirmed etymologies for the name of the sandwich.
What is the origin of the name Reuben?
Reuben is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Reuben?
Since 1880, 45 girls and 32,145 boys in the U.S. have been named Reuben (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #4743 in 1926. Its highest rank for boys was #149 in 1880. In 2025 it ranked #889 for boys, with 269 babies given the name.
Is Reuben a boy or girl name?
Reuben is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 45 girls and 32,145 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.