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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Is this name ..

55 replies

LuckyMum3 · 24/12/2021 11:55

Posh, 'chavvy' , Religious, Middle Class, A normal name, etc

Reuben ..

What do you think when you hear this name?

OP posts:

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Mol1628 · 24/12/2021 20:05

Normal, common but not really popular. I know a few Reubens.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 24/12/2021 20:01

It seems like a Jewish name to me (and I am Jewish, if that matters). Also, all three Reubens that I know have brothers Ezra .

Cotswoldmama · 24/12/2021 19:59

I have a Reuben he's nearly 9 we know of one other at his school. He's exactly how I imagined a Reuben to be when we thought about using the name. He really active, outgoing, popular, funny and laid-back. To me Reuben is the traditional spelling and the most common but people still spell it wrong.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 24/12/2021 19:46

Mainstream now with no particular associations, although decades ago I might have guessed Jewish background. It's perfectly fine, just not a name I especially like the sound of (probably the "roo" part, since I'm not that fond of Rupert either - just personal taste, although weirdly I like Rue on girls!)

EurghCobwebs · 24/12/2021 19:44

I just think of the film Along Came Polly. "You want to go for scuba, Reuben?" (Said in a French accent)

Ibane · 24/12/2021 19:35

@LuckyMum3

Thanks all, I'd never heard of the sandwich until Mumsnet.. is it an American sandwich?

Love the nn Rue/Roo so our girls name choice is also similar with that we have a little Roo

American origin, but you can certainly find them pretty easily in Jewish-style delis elsewhere (though they’re not kosher, obv.)

babasaclover · 24/12/2021 19:31

It's a dogs name

deadlanguage · 24/12/2021 19:24

Previously I would have thought Jewish but now I would just think trendy, no different demographic to Oliver, Charlie etc.

WhoppingBigBackside · 24/12/2021 19:15

@SummerLew, in the Bibles as in King James Bible it is written as Reuben.

If you are reading a Hebrew version it will be written in Hebrew script,which may or may not have 'vowels'.

My knowledge of hebrew is limited but v and b use the same letter.
The ben bit means son - Benjamin and Benyamin are the same name. I think the letter for y and j are the same

Dancingonmoonlight · 24/12/2021 19:01

I don’t think it’s either a middle or working class nane - it’s both. A poster above compared it to Joshua which is a great comparison as I know two brothers with these names!

I think it’s a lovely name. It was on my list along with Tom and Max.

SummerLew · 24/12/2021 18:55

@WhoppingBigBackside The Bible spelling is actually Reuven.
It's just personal preference. I prefer the spelling Ruben; many like you prefer Reuben. I don't understand what your problem with this is.

SundayTeatime · 24/12/2021 18:10

@KaptainKaveman

Peter Paul Rubens. One of the Old Masters.

But Reuben and Rubens are completely different names. They don’t even sound the same.

MillieMollieMandi · 24/12/2021 16:47

Definitely a sandwich!

WhoppingBigBackside · 24/12/2021 16:44

I really don't like the Louie spelling, FWIW. It looks girlish

WhoppingBigBackside · 24/12/2021 16:42

@SummerLew, the Reuben is much more popular, and is the Bible''s spelling

@KaptainKaveman, Rubens was Flemish. Ruben is the usual spelling in Italy, Netherlands, France etc

Flutterflybutterby · 24/12/2021 16:35

Biblical. Middle class. Lovely.

KaptainKaveman · 24/12/2021 16:33

Peter Paul Rubens. One of the Old Masters.

Original poster

LuckyMum3 · 24/12/2021 16:30

OH thinks Ruben as that's how all the footballers spell it ..
I think Reuben 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

SummerLew · 24/12/2021 16:18

@WhoppingBigBackside

Ruben is also a fairly popular and international spelling, so I disagree with you I'm afraid.

It's not always best to just go for the more popular spelling. Think Louie.

TrueGrit54 · 24/12/2021 16:16

SundayTeatime - Paul Rubens, I realise it’s a surname but if I hear Reuben I still think artist.

takingmytimeonmyride · 24/12/2021 16:15

I have a Reuben, he's 17. I'm working class, not religious. Reuben is the best spelling (obviously I would say that)

I've met a few more, but it's not hugely popular. Didn't know any when I named him. I'm a trendsetter.

DaisyWaldron · 24/12/2021 16:07

The only Reuben I know is extremely posh, extremely clever and extremely nice, so I like the name because if him. He's Italian, though, so the connotations aren't the same as for withing the UK.

Tempusfudgeit · 24/12/2021 16:07

For me it's the baddie in Black Beauty.

Luredbyapomegranate · 24/12/2021 16:02

It's super popular, and pretty neutral I'd have thought.

WhoppingBigBackside · 24/12/2021 16:01

I very much prefer the stronger spelling Ruben

The spelling varies but given the popularity of the name, it's best to go with the standard spelling, Reuben.

The original name in hebrew would not have been written with vowels.

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