Reuven

Boy Name #2,377 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

The eldest of Israel's twelve sons — behold, a son!

Jewish Israeli Hebrew

Spiritual Traditional Classic Strong

Meaning & Origin

"behold, a son!"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

"see, the Lord has seen my misery"

Origin: Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 29:32)

Language: Hebrew

The Story of Reuven

Reuven (also Reuben in English) is the Hebrew name meaning 'behold, a son' — from 're'u' (see/behold) and 'ven' (son). In Genesis 29:32, Leah names her firstborn son Reuven, saying: 'Because the Lord has seen my affliction; now my husband will love me.' It is one of the oldest names in recorded history, borne by the eldest of Jacob's twelve sons whose descendants became one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The tribe of Reuben settled east of the Jordan River.

Reuven is the authentic Hebrew pronunciation used in Israel and traditional Jewish communities, while Reuben (or Ruben) is the Anglicized form. In Israel, Reuven has been used consistently as an honorable biblical name. It was also borne by Reuven Rivlin, who served as Israel's 10th President from 2014 to 2021, giving the name modern political prestige.

As the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, Reuven holds a complex place in Jewish tradition — he lost his birthright for improper conduct but also showed mercy by trying to save his brother Joseph from the pit. His name begins the roll call of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the High Priest's breastplate, Reuven's stone is said to be ruby.

Fun Facts

The Reuben sandwich (corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese on rye) was likely invented at Reuben's Restaurant in New York City in the early 20th century
The tribe of Reuben's territory in ancient Canaan is depicted on maps as lying east of the Dead Sea in modern-day Jordan

Reuven in Other Languages

Arabic روبين

French Ruben

Hebrew רְאוּבֵן

English Reuben

Spanish Rubén

Famous People Named Reuven

Reuven Rivlin

Politician

1939

Israeli politician who served as the 10th President of Israel from 2014 to 2021

Reuben (son of Jacob)

Other

Biblical patriarch, eldest son of Jacob and Leah, founder of the Tribe of Reuben, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #2,377
Total SSA Count: 59
Cultural Origins: Jewish Israeli Hebrew
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Formal
Cross-Cultural Ease: Low

Common Nicknames

Reuvy Ruvy Reuvi

Pairs Well With

Reuven Moshe Reuven Avraham Reuven David Reuven Yakov Reuven Shmuel Reuven Natan Reuven Tzvi

Sibling Names

Shimon Levi Yehuda Dinah Rivka Leah Devorah

Similar Names

Reuben Ruben Eben Lyle Levy Levy Levin Lenny

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions About Reuven

What does the name Reuven mean?

"behold, a son!" (from Hebrew). "see, the Lord has seen my misery" (from Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 29:32)). Reuven (also Reuben in English) is the Hebrew name meaning 'behold, a son' — from 're'u' (see/behold) and 'ven' (son). In Genesis 29:32, Leah names her firstborn son Reuven, saying: 'Because the Lord has seen my affliction; now my husband will love me.' It is one of the oldest names in recorded history, borne by the eldest of Jacob's twelve sons whose descendants became one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The tribe of Reuben settled east of the Jordan River.

What is the origin of the name Reuven?

Reuven has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 29:32), Jewish, and Israeli origins. In Hebrew, it means "behold, a son!". In Biblical Hebrew (Genesis 29:32), it means "see, the Lord has seen my misery".

Is Reuven a boy or girl name?

Reuven is primarily used as a boy name.

How popular is the name Reuven?

Reuven is currently ranked #2377 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Reuven?

Common nicknames for Reuven include Reuvy, Ruvy, and Reuvi.

What are good middle names for Reuven?

Popular middle name pairings include Reuven Moshe, Reuven Avraham, Reuven David, Reuven Yakov, Reuven Shmuel, Reuven Natan, and Reuven Tzvi.

What are good sibling names for Reuven?

Names that pair well with Reuven as siblings include Shimon, Levi, Yehuda, Dinah, Rivka, Leah, and Devorah.

How many syllables does Reuven have?

Reuven has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Reuven a common or rare name?

Reuven is an uncommon name, ranked #2377 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Reuven

Reuven is a boy name with Jewish, Israeli, and Hebrew origins . The name means "behold, a son!" in Hebrew .

Reuven is currently ranked #2,377 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Reuven has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Reuven include Reuvy, Ruvy, and Reuvi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.