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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Reuben and Gabriel?

33 replies

user1490016445 · 22/04/2018 13:27

Considering Reuben and Gabriel for twins but wondering if the nicknames would be too similar - Rubey and Gabey? Would also love to hear girls' names in a similar style!

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Freyanna · 23/04/2018 23:23

I really like both names.

RedDwarves · 23/04/2018 22:47

Gabriels have all become Gabe, in my experience.

Reubens, on the other hand, have all stayed Reuben or had their names shortened to Roo.

My only comment is that Gabriel is very Christian and Reuben is very Jewish. Probably doesn't matter to most people, but it's something I would notice.

Danic449 · 23/04/2018 21:04

I love the name Reuben, shortened to Roo and Gabe for Gabriel! Love the sound of Roo and Gabe together!

LoveInTokyo · 23/04/2018 20:52

I think they go fine together but I really wouldn’t shorten either of them. Especially not “Rubey”...

Katjolo · 23/04/2018 19:56

Great names

madamedepoppadom · 23/04/2018 19:13

I don't think either of those names would be shortened unless you specifically asked for them to be. I love Gabriel, don't love Reuben for some reason, but I do think they work well together as sibling names (and are much better for twins than something super-matchy).

NorbertTheDragon · 23/04/2018 18:55

Lovely names.

I have a Reuben (who is a twin!) He is called Reuben by everyone except me, I shorten it to Roo or Rooly. Or Rooly Rooster.

chocolatekimmy · 23/04/2018 18:54

Love both of these names and were on the short list when I had my last child - girl, so I never Got to use the
M

chezmk1988 · 23/04/2018 18:51

Lovely names together. No idea why you think those would be nicknames though. To be Gabriel is Gabe and Reuben would be roo to me.

Sandsnake · 23/04/2018 13:39

I worked at a summer camp years ago and taught twins called Reuben and Gabriel. Lovely boys, lovely names. Go for it!

SleepingStandingUp · 23/04/2018 13:35

pipilangstrumpf it surely doesn't take much to work out how someone who liked Reuben but not Rue / Roo could shorten rueBEN to Ben. I wouldn't as I think the long version is lovely but its not like I suggested Dave

strawberrypenguin · 23/04/2018 12:35

Love them both. I'd go with Roo and Gabe as nn though

Fink · 23/04/2018 12:26

They don't have to be shortened you know! I have a child with one of those names and it's never shortened. If I want to use something shorter than the full name we have a variety of nicknames which aren't actually related to the first name.

Love both names, btw.

Girls names in a similar style I guess would be biblical names for women or female versions of male biblical names, e.g.:
Gabrielle, Raphaelle
Rachel, Rebecca
Madeleine
Abigail, Esther
Lydia
Miriam
Susannah

pipilangstrumpf · 23/04/2018 12:16

But why shorten Reuben and Gabriel at all? They're lovely as they are!

pipilangstrumpf · 23/04/2018 12:15

I can't see how Reuben (emphasis on ROO) would naturally shorten to Ben..?

Benjamin, Benedict etc I might shorten to Ben.

ShowOfHands · 23/04/2018 10:39

Every Reuben I know is Roo for short.

SleepingStandingUp · 23/04/2018 10:34

Surely Rueben would be Ben? So Rue or Ben and Gabe. Do you really want to shorten it to a girls name?

Winchester13 · 23/04/2018 10:32

Gabriel is my fave boys name and Reuben is quite nice

pipilangstrumpf · 23/04/2018 10:27

Gabriel often becomes Gabe

Reuben can be Reuby or Reubs.

I wouldn't shorten them at all!

Joeybee · 23/04/2018 01:36

Yeah I'd say Reuby and Gabey are too similar as nicknames, and too cutesy too. Why not go with Gabe instead?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 22/04/2018 17:39

Reu/Roo and Gabe.

DiegoMadonna · 22/04/2018 16:50

I've only ever heard Roo or Ben for Reuben. And only ever heard Gabe for Gabriel.

...Thank God! Because Rubey and Gabey both sound individually awful. I have never felt the need to add a cutesy 'y' to the end of any of my kids' names or shortenings.

BringMeCoffeePlease · 22/04/2018 16:40

Hate Reuben, love Gabriel. It is likely that they would be shortened to Rube and Gabe.

Similar girls’ names:
Morgan
Ruby
Gabriella
Gabrielle
Paton

What is it you like about these boys names? It’s hard to suggest girls’ names without knowing.