רְאוּבֵן

Reuben

boyHebrewJewishChristian

Reuben is a Jewish boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning “Behold, a son”.

MeaningBehold, a son
GenderBoy
OriginHebrew
Written asרְאוּבֵן
PronunciationROO-bin
TraditionJewish, Christian
Used inUnited Kingdom, United States, Israel, Australia

Meaning and origin of Reuben

Reuben comes from the Hebrew Re'uven, made from re'u 'see, behold' and ben 'son'. In Genesis 29:32 Leah names her firstborn Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, and he gave his name to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name was taken up by English Puritans and has long been used in Jewish and Christian families. Reuben has become popular again in Britain in recent years.

Is Reuben a Jewish name?

Reuben is a biblical name: the eldest son of Jacob and Leah and ancestor of the tribe of Reuben, honoured in Jewish and Christian tradition.

How popular is Reuben?

Popular in the UK and steady in the US and elsewhere.

Gifts with the name Reuben

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Spellings and variants of Reuben

ReuvenRubenRoubenRube

Names similar to Reuben

More Jewish boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Reuben mean?

Reuben means 'Behold, a son'. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Reuben a Jewish name?

Reuben is a biblical name: the eldest son of Jacob and Leah and ancestor of the tribe of Reuben, honoured in Jewish and Christian tradition.

How do you pronounce Reuben?

Reuben is pronounced ROO-bin.

Is Reuben a boy or girl name?

Reuben is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.