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Baby names

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

Original poster

The name Reuben

40 replies

BabyLlamaZen · 04/09/2020 08:57

what do you think of when you hear or read it? What other names do you think are similar?

used to love it but it's so popular

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Pippilangstrumpfy · 05/09/2020 07:06

I know brothers Reuben and Quentin.

I like both names.

SakuraLDN · 05/09/2020 01:40

It was my favourite name for a boy but for some reason discussed it with a friends partner and a year later they used it. Now I'm pregnant with our first and am stuck for a name 😕 I say go for it, just don't tell anyone who might steal it!

Tillygetsit · 04/09/2020 22:47

Oh, and they both occasionally get shortened to Reu.

Tillygetsit · 04/09/2020 22:46

I know 2 Reubens. 1 is 11 the second just 2. Both quite arty families both lovely boys. It's a good name.

Userzzz · 04/09/2020 20:16

I like the sound of it. Reuben is the same of a popular sandwich in America.

FerryCrossTheMersey · 04/09/2020 20:06

@Oneandabean

I had it as a choice for my DD 9 years ago if she had been a boy. Until my uncle said he’d call it rhubarb. Put me off. But I love the name
I have a 31 year old brother called Ruben (were not religious so it’s spelt the ‘untraditional’ way), he was always called rhubarb because he was tall and skinny.
Oneandabean · 04/09/2020 18:38

I had it as a choice for my DD 9 years ago if she had been a boy. Until my uncle said he’d call it rhubarb. Put me off. But I love the name

NannyR · 04/09/2020 17:06

Other names I think of when I hear Reuben are OT Bible names like Jacob, Isaac, Benjamin, Joseph.

OhMsBeliever · 04/09/2020 16:58

It makes me think of my son. He's quite nice. Grin

We're atheist, I just liked the name. He's always been the only one in his year at school, but he's in his teens and it wasn't at all popular when I named him. I can only think that I'm a trendsetter, that must be it!

Arcadia · 04/09/2020 16:55

My favourite boys name, never had a boy just one girl, so please do use it!
I don't know any children with that name - or maybe one a friend of a friend.

minnieok · 04/09/2020 16:53

My grandads name, never met another one

emmathedilemma · 04/09/2020 16:40

I would have always considered it to be a jewish name but i know a couple of baby ones and they aren't Jewish. Is it popular because of a TV show or something because it seems to have really exploded in popularity.

Flymetothestars · 04/09/2020 14:02

Other names that you might like that in my head I illogically put in the same bracket as Reuben are

Caleb
Seth
Otis
Otto
Tristan
Nathan or Nate
Wilfred
Barnaby
Austin

MikeUniformMike · 04/09/2020 13:49

Reuben will get Rueben a lot, or Ruben or Rubin.
Popular with similar names also popular - Roman, Rowan, Rohan, Ruan, Rory, Rufus, Rupert, and on here, Robin.

Original poster
BabyLlamaZen · 04/09/2020 13:10

what other names do you think of when you think of Reuben?

OP posts:
Flymetothestars · 04/09/2020 12:28

It's way too popular for me and sounds too similar to names like Roman which are also getting majorly popular at the same time as Reuben so I'd avoid. Would have considered a few years ago maybe. Not now

PapaPoule · 04/09/2020 11:21

Association for me is a variant - "The Hurricane" Rubin Carter.

Love the name, but I'm very big on Jewish names (not Jewish myself) anyway, and had it on the shortlist for my DS because I like the meaning "behold a son".

Ultimately didn't like the connotations of the diminutive "Rube" though, so went a different way in the end.

unmarkedbythat · 04/09/2020 11:14

I love it as a name.

I don't think it has any particular associations for me, I just really like it. I suppose in my mind it is filed as 'classic, timeless'.

itsjakeandamy · 04/09/2020 11:10

I like it. I remember a friend using it 20 years ago and thinking it very "out there" and brave. Now I consider it very mainstream. It fits with all the other biblical names which are making a comeback eg Amos but is a bit more common. Because it's biblical I don't see that it's odd to use it without being Jewish.
I do much prefer Rufus though which I think is much more stylish.

Ojj37 · 04/09/2020 10:59

I’ve always loved it

Polkasquare · 04/09/2020 10:43

Just look at the ONS statistics and you see exactly how popular ( or not) names are!

FeedMeSantiago · 04/09/2020 10:40

I know two young Reubens and one Rúben (Portugese parents). None of them are Jewish. The youngest is a toddler, the other two are primary school age.

I think R names for boys are increasingly popular - Roman/Rowan/Rohan/Ronan and Reuben too.

boredboredboredboredbored · 04/09/2020 10:18

Love it!

Firebird83 · 04/09/2020 10:15

I think it’s getting popular, I know quite a few toddlers called Reuben.

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/09/2020 10:13

I do t like it but it’s very popular locally so I must be ab exception.