Reuben Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Reuben has its origins in Hebrew, meaning 'behold, a son.' It evolved from the biblical Hebrew form to the modern English version. Reuben is associated with traits of reliability and honor, having a significant biblical relevance as the firstborn son of Jacob. The name has maintained a presence in various cultures, particularly among Jewish communities.
The name Reuben is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Reuben has been falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Reuben' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 259th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 385th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 501st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 530th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 603rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 829th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 866th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6167th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 18004th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22013th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Reuben' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Reuben"
Pronunciation
/ˈruːbən/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Reuben comes from the Hebrew name רְאוּבֵן (Re'uvén), meaning 'behold, a son.' It is derived from the Hebrew words 'ra' meaning 'to see' and 'ben' meaning 'son.'
Meaning
behold, a son
Language Evolution
Re'uvén (Hebrew), Reuben (English)
Biblical Background
Reuben is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, being the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, and is mentioned in various biblical narratives.
Historical Usage
The name Reuben has been in use since biblical times and has seen varying levels of popularity throughout history, particularly within Jewish communities and among those familiar with biblical texts.
Variants & Derivatives
Rubin, Ruben, Reub
Modern Popularity & Image
Reuben is considered a classic and traditional name. It has a strong biblical connotation and is often associated with reliability and honor.
Famous People
Reuben Fleischer, American film director, Reuben D. Musgrave, American politician, Reuben Stoddard, American singer
Explore More Reuben Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Reuben"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Reuben"
"Reuben" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 259th of 7545 | 7,275 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 385th of 6773 | 4,073 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 501st of 7552 | 4,211 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 530th of 10718 | 3,743 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 603rd of 16616 | 4,231 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 829th of 24088 | 3,571 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 866th of 23106 | 3,092 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6167th of 9107 | 27 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 18004th of 19264 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22013th of 27321 | 12 |
Regional Popularity of "Reuben" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
14.69% 208th/1416 |
21.25% 293rd/1379 |
11.28% 267th/2366 |
25.04% 286th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
23.16% 358th/1546 |
26.54% 413th/1556 |
14.66% 345th/2353 |
31.22% 483rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
24.70% 550th/2227 |
21.07% 512th/2430 |
16.93% 483rd/2853 |
16.25% 451st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
17.98% 528th/2937 |
15.39% 536th/3483 |
16.94% 596th/3518 |
11.20% 453rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.58% 574th/3685 |
12.38% 554th/4475 |
13.11% 681st/5194 |
8.56% 541st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
14.75% 676th/4582 |
13.96% 721st/5164 |
16.90% 1236th/7313 |
11.44% 854th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
17.72% 706th/3984 |
15.31% 687th/4487 |
17.02% 1161st/6822 |
15.09% 947th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Reuben" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Reuben"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Reuben" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.