Rueben
Boy name · #3854 in 2025 · Uniqueness 49/100
In 2025, 28 baby boys were named Rueben, placing it at #3854 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3982, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 64,286 boys born in 2025 was named Rueben.
The 139-year story
Rueben first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 72 boys were named Rueben — good for #800 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rueben per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rueben against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rueben in class?
Rueben scores 49 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rueben is most common
State-level data for Rueben is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Rueben
Statistically, parents drawn to Rueben tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gaston, Freeman, Rupert, Russel, and Mervin.
GastonFreemanRupertRusselMervinLavernOlenArmand
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rueben | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #3848 |
| 2024 | 17 | #5443 |
| 2023 | 24 | #4343 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 14 | #5980 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3347 |
| 2018 | 27 | #3891 |
| 2017 | 29 | #3678 |
| 2016 | 22 | #4470 |
| 2015 | 26 | #3982 |
| 2014 | 30 | #3532 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 36 | #3115 |
| 2011 | 22 | #4356 |
| 2010 | 22 | #4366 |
| 2009 | 39 | #2991 |
| 2008 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2007 | 37 | #3090 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4105 |
| 2005 | 29 | #3389 |
| 2004 | 47 | #2376 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2579 |
| 2002 | 33 | #2817 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Rueben a popular boy name?
Rueben ranked #3854 among boys in 2025 with 28 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3982.
When was the name Rueben most popular?
Rueben peaked in 1921, when 72 American boys received the name (ranked #800 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rueben?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 64,286 newborn American boys was named Rueben. It scores 49/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.