Rueben Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rueben originates from the Hebrew name Re'uven, meaning 'behold, a son.' It has evolved through various languages, retaining its essential meaning. The name carries biblical significance, being linked to Jacob's firstborn son. Today, Rueben is viewed as a strong and dependable name, with notable figures bearing it.
The name Rueben 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 maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rueben has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled 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, 'Rueben' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 910th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1220th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1192nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1203rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1463rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2804th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4069th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rueben' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rueben"
Pronunciation
/ˈruːbən/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
Rueben is derived from the Hebrew name Re'uven, which means 'behold, a son.' It is composed of the elements 'ra' meaning 'to see' and 'ben' meaning 'son.'
Meaning
behold, a son
Language Evolution
Re'uven (Hebrew), Reuben (English), Ruben (Spanish/Portuguese), Rubén (Spanish)
Biblical Background
Rueben is a significant biblical name, as Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah in the Old Testament.
Historical Usage
The name Rueben gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, influenced by biblical references.
Variants & Derivatives
Reuben, Ruben, Rubén
Modern Popularity & Image
Rueben is perceived as a traditional yet approachable name, often associated with strength and reliability.
Famous People
Reuben Sturman, an American businessman, Reuben H. Fleet, an American aviation pioneer
Explore More Rueben Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rueben"
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 "Rueben"
"Rueben" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 910th of 7545 | 903 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1220th of 6773 | 580 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1192nd of 7552 | 767 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1203rd of 10718 | 764 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1463rd of 16616 | 885 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2804th of 24088 | 604 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4069th of 23106 | 307 |
Regional Popularity of "Rueben" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
33.33% 472nd/1416 |
- |
61.45% 1454th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
45.86% 709th/1546 |
- |
58.73% 1382nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
42.45% 1211th/2853 |
28.43% 789th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
55.16% 1620th/2937 |
- |
34.91% 1228th/3518 |
22.01% 890th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
67.73% 3031st/4475 |
28.90% 1501st/5194 |
17.84% 1127th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
- |
41.61% 3043rd/7313 |
30.35% 2265th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
75.38% 4731st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rueben" 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 "Rueben"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rueben" 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.