Boy name · Hebrew
Ruben
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: behold, a sonRuben is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "behold, a son". It is used in German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Behold, a son
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #480 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ruben
As a boy's name, Ruben comes from Hebrew and means "behold, a son". It is used in German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Rubén.
In Spanish, say roo-BEN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ruben on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ruben on 1 list.
“Behold, a son; Hebrew. Say roo-BEN”
From Spanish boy names, classic male Spanish names
How popular is Ruben?
- US rank in 2025
- #480
- 632 babies, 370 per million boys
- Best rank
- #165 in 1980
- Most babies: 1,805 in 1992
- Babies since 1880
- At least 116,552
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 273 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 327 per million |
| 1900s | 371 per million |
| 1910s | 298 per million |
| 1920s | 376 per million |
| 1930s | 440 per million |
| 1940s | 424 per million |
| 1950s | 613 per million |
| 1960s | 655 per million |
| 1970s | 820 per million |
| 1980s | 805 per million |
| 1990s | 869 per million |
| 2000s | 770 per million |
| 2010s | 464 per million |
| 2020s | 369 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #397 | #418 | #416 | #418 | #466 | #460 | #460 | #482 | #505 | #480 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Ruben
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- ReubenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
- ReuvenBehold, a son (Hebrew, boy)
Names spelled like Ruben
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- IscahTo behold (Hebrew, girl)
- YiskaTo behold (Hebrew, girl)
Middle names for Ruben
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
Ruben: common questions
What does the name Ruben mean?
Ruben comes from Hebrew and means "behold, a son".
Is Ruben a boy or girl name?
Ruben is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Ruben come from?
Ruben comes from Hebrew and means "behold, a son". Today it is used in German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish.
How popular is the name Ruben?
Ruben ranked #480 in the US in 2025, with 632 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ruben?
Forms of Ruben with the same meaning and origin include Reuben (English) and Reuven (Hebrew).
What middle names go with Ruben?
Middle names that flow well with Ruben include Elijah, Elton, Evander, Everett and Jameson. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.