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Reuven

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROO-ven /ˈruː.vɛn/High

Meaning: Behold, a son; the original Hebrew form of Reuben (Hebrew: re'u: see/behold + ben: son)High

In 30 seconds: The original Hebrew form of Reuben meaning 'behold, a son,' from re'u (see) + ben (son). In the Hebrew Bible, Leah named her firstborn son Reuven saying 'Now my husband will love me' — one of the most emotionally charged naming moments in Genesis.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningBehold, a son; the original Hebrew form of Reuben (Hebrew: re'u: see/behold + ben: son)

U.S. rank (2025)#2383 → Stable

2025 U.S. births58 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,091

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Reuven is the original Hebrew form of Reuben, from Hebrew re'u (behold, see) + ben (son: behold, a son). Reuven was Jacob's eldest son and the ancestor of the Tribe of Reuben. The name is used in Jewish communities as the authentic Hebrew form.

Reuven is used primarily in Israeli and Jewish communities in the United States. Its 2024 ranking of #2383 for boys reflects use among Hebrew-speaking families.

Did you know? When Leah named Reuben (Reuven) in Genesis 29:32, she declared: 'The Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.' The name literally encodes her hope — re'u (behold/see) + ben (son) — a cry to be noticed through the birth of a son.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Reuven — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ReubenRuben

Nicknames

ReuReuvi

Famous Bearers

★Reuven (Hebrew Bible) (biblical)
Eldest son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Reuben (one of the twelve tribes of Israel). Named by Leah saying 'Behold, a son — now my husband will love me.'

If you like Reuven…

Reuben— the standard English form of the same Hebrew name

Simeon— Hebrew tribal patriarch name with the same biblical generation

Levi— Hebrew tribal patriarch name from the same sons of Jacob

Judah— Hebrew tribal patriarch name from Jacob's sons in the same tradition

Asher— Hebrew tribal patriarch name in the same sons-of-Jacob family

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By themehebrew biblical two-syllable jewish patriarch

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Reuven mean?

Reuven means 'behold, a son,' from Hebrew re'u (see/behold) + ben (son). Leah named her firstborn Reuven hoping to win her husband's love.

How do you pronounce Reuven?

It's said ROO-ven /ˈruː.vɛn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Reuven a boy or girl name?

Reuven is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Reuven?

Reuven ranked #2383 for U.S. boys in 2024.