Origin, Meaning, And History Of Reuben
Reuben is a traditional name with deep Hebrew origins, meaning ‘behold, a son.’ It was also the name of Jacob and Leah’s eldest son in the Old Testament, who became the forefather of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Hebrew equivalent of this name is Re’uven, which stems from two Hebrew words, ‘ra’a,’ meaning ‘to see, to understand,’ and ‘ben,’ implying ‘son.’ Reuben has been a common Christian name in England since the Protestant Reformation.
The name is mentioned in the book of Genesis 29:32, which states that “And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben.” According to Biblical information, Leah was not Jacob’s favorite wife, which distressed her, but she was blessed with the joy of her first son, who was given the name Reuben.
The name Reuben has been historically carried by Armenian princes, with the first occurrence being in 1025 with Reuben I, the prince of Armenia and the founder of the Rubenid dynasty. The name has acquired many variations over time, such as Rouben and Ruben in Armenian, Rhouben in Biblical Greek, and Reuven in Biblical Hebrew. Ruben is also common in Danish, Dutch, Italian, and French, with the diminutive of the name being Rube. Additionally, the name spelled Ruben can also be a form of Robin.
In contemporary times, Reuben not only remains a popular given name but also the name of a famous food. The Reuben sandwich, made with savory corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and creamy Russian dressing, was created in the early 1900s at Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel and has since become an American menu staple. Additionally, the name has been given to characters in a number of popular TV series, such asReuben Ainsworthin the show Skins andReuben Tish Koffin the Ocean’s series. The English alt-rock band Reuben is another example.
How To Pronounce Reuben?
Famous People With The Name Reuben
- Jacob Reuben Marchand我erican rapper a.k.a J. Reu, known for his Christmas jingle for the Best Buy TV and Radio.
- Reuben Fenton我erican politician and merchant who was a US senator and governor of New York
- Reuben Wood我erican Democratic politician who was the 21st governor of Ohio
- Reuben Fine我erican chess player who was honored with the title, International Grandmaster in 1950
- Reuben Foster我erican football linebacker awarded with the Butkus award
- Reuben WuEnglish artist and photographer known for his artistic content for Apple’s macOS Big Sur wallpapers
- Reuben ThorneNew Zealand rugby union player who led the Crusaders to Super 12 victory
Reuben On The Popularity Chart
The name’s popularity reached a high point in 1990. After that it dipped in the 2000s as can be surmised from this chart.
Popularity Over Time
From the 1990s to 2000s, the name’s usage has decreased. It rose again in 1999 and since then has been fluctuating but on an upward trend.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name’s rank has been declining since the mid 1980s. It was 18,427 in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Reuben
If you want a name that sounds similar to Reuben, you can find more options below.
Popular Sibling Names For Reuben
Other Popular Names Beginning With R
Names With Similar Meaning As Reuben
Here are some more names that mean the same as Reuben. Take a look at some suggestions below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Reuben
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Reuben?
The name Reuben means to ‘behold, a son.’.
2. What is the origin of the name Reuben?
Reuben has a Biblical and Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Reuben?
Reuben is pronounced as reu-ben.
4. Does the name Reuben have any special significance or symbolism in a religion?
Yes, Reuben is a biblical name mentioned in the Old Testament. He was Jacob and Leah’s eldest son. He was also the founder of the Israelite Tribe named Reuben (1).
5. Is Reuben a gender-neutral name?
Reuben is a name mentioned in the Bible and has been used as a masculine name ever since. The name also means ‘behold, a son,’ so it is widely identified as a male name with no gender-neutral connotations. Its variations, Ruben and Reuven, are also used as traditionally masculine names.
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