Reuben
Say it: ROO-ben/ˈɹuː.bən/
BoyMeans behold, a son6 letters2 syllables
#156
in Ireland (2025)
#151 with spellings combined
33
babies in 2025
#128
best rank (2018)
922
babies since 1972
Up 20
10-year rank change
Reuben through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | #151 |
| 2024 | 38 | #135 |
| 2023 | 36 | #150 |
| 2022 | 44 | #135 |
| 2021 | 42 | #142 |
| 2020 | 41 | #143 |
| 2019 | 40 | #147 |
| 2018 | 50 | #128 |
| 2017 | 40 | #149 |
| 2016 | 41 | #150 |
| 2015 | 36 | #171 |
| 2014 | 47 | #136 |
| 2013 | 46 | #138 |
| 2012 | 55 | #131 |
| 2011 | 37 | #180 |
| 2010 | 41 | #165 |
| 2009 | 43 | #152 |
| 2008 | 39 | #166 |
| 2007 | 29 | #178 |
| 2006 | 27 | #173 |
| 2005 | 17 | #205 |
| 2004 | 19 | #186 |
| 2003 | 11 | #245 |
| 2002 | 12 | #216 |
| 2001 | 6 | #297 |
| 2000 | 8 | #236 |
| 1999 | 6 | #266 |
| 1998 | 5 | #280 |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 |
| 1996 | 5 | #295 |
| 1992 | 3 | #337 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1981 | 3 | #322 |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1977 | 3 | #333 |
| 1976 | 4 | #288 |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Reuben mean?
Behold, a son
Hebrew Re'uven, from words meaning see and son.
Say it right
ROOben
The story of Reuben
Reuben comes from the Hebrew Re’uven. It is made of a word meaning “see” and the word for son, so it is usually read as “behold, a son” or “see, a son”.
In the Bible Reuben is the eldest of the twelve sons of Jacob, born to Jacob’s wife Leah. One of the twelve tribes of Israel was named after him. The name has long been used by Jewish families, and by Christians alongside other Old Testament names.
Reuben first reached the CSO list in 1972 but was rare until the 2000s. It had the most babies in 2012, with 55 boys, and its best combined rank was number 128 in 2018. In 2025, 33 boys were named Reuben. It is far more popular in Northern Ireland, where 57 boys were named Reuben in 2025 and it reached number 29, its highest place there. The CSO counts Ruben separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Reuben (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Reuben
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Reuben | 33 | 922 |
In Northern Ireland
#29 in 2025 with 57 babies. Best rank #29 (2025); 1,271 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.