A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Ruven since 1949
Babies named Ruven per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 25 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 29 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 12 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Ruven is a rare name that has never entered the mainstream in the United States. First recorded in 1949, it saw its highest usage in 1985, but even then it remained uncommon. Over the past few decades, the name has been given to only a handful of boys each year. Since 2020, however, Ruven has shown a modest uptick in popularity, reflecting a possible renewed interest in distinctive biblical variants. With just 1 in every 341,615 newborns receiving the name in 2025, it remains an exceedingly rare choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots and a unique sound.
Ruven is a variant of the biblical name Reuben, from the Hebrew 're'u ben' meaning 'behold, a son'. In the Old Testament, Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. The name has been used among Jewish communities for centuries and has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries as a distinctive alternative spelling.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ruv, Ruvy
Sibling names for Ruven
Names that share Ruven's style, for a brother or sister.
