Ruben

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Behold, A Son; Red

Background: The name Ruben originates from the Hebrew name רוּבֵן (Ruben), which is derived from the components 'ra' (ראה), meaning 'behold,' and 'ben' (בן), meaning 'son.' This name appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Additionally, the name has found usage in Spanish contexts, where it maintains the meanings associated with its Hebrew roots.

At a glance

Quick stats based on the history of this name.

Lifetime rank
#278
Total births
116,573
Most popular decade
1990s (51,072 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-143 ranks)
Years in Top 100
0
First recorded year
1880

Gender usage

99.4% male 0.6% female

Stats by gender

Male

First year
1880
First year births
30
First year rank
#305
Peak year
1992
Peak year births
1,805
Peak rank
#178
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
607
Recent rank
#501

Female

First year
1925
First year births
5
First year rank
#4,973
Peak year
1980
Peak year births
21
Peak rank
#3,720
Most recent year
2009
Recent year births
6
Recent rank
#15,242

Births over time

Number of babies given this name each year.

Rank over time

Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).

Related links