Reuben

[CallMeCrazyBut]

I'm mum to a Reuben (name changed as I like to keep personal info as minimal on MN as poss) and have noticed it becoming more popular. I've loved it for years and never knew any growing up, but have a theory about why it's more popular now - I fell in love with it when I was about 14, listening to Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on repeat. Perhaps all the Joseph fans are getting around to having kids now, hence the rise of the Reuben (and perhaps his brothers too)? If you're a mum to a Reuben (or another of the children of Israel) does this ring true?

But where are all the Simeons, Zebuluns and Naphtalis?

I just knew it from the bible !

I have a nephew Reuben (age about 9). Tbh I think it was an outlying but trending name when they picked it and they picked it for that reason. Doubt Joseph (Bring Me My Coloured Coat!) had much to do with it though.

They often call him Ruby which I love.

But where are all the Simeons, Zebuluns and Naphtalis?

Or even the Josephs?

I have a Reuben. I did like Joseph when I was younger but never took much notice of the names. I chose Reuben because a friend of a friend had a Ruben and I thought it was a lovely name and remembered it when I was pg with him. Except I spelled it correctly.

My other DS loves Joseph, Reuben doesn't.

It's certainly become more popular since I had my one (he's 12) Obviously it's because I'm a trendsetter!

Perhaps those names will burst into popularity soon Sanity! I actually quite like Simeon! Hope they don't bring back Gad though...

Canyou Joseph's more popular now than it was pre-coloured coat days isn't it? Likewise Asher and Levi. My mate who sang along with me called her DS1 Joseph and another musical theatre friend called her son Levi.

Another - you must be! All the Reubens I've met (4 including my own) are under 3.

The only Reubens I know are Jewish, because it's very popular in the Jewish culture, but I don't know any under the age of 10.

I don't have a Reuben but it's one of my favourite names. When I was 14 my first son was going to be Reuben. My best friend was going to call her son Finlay. She had a Reuben in 2008 .
I wasn't a Joseph fan, don't think my friend was either.

I have a 10 yr old Reuben!

I fell in love with the name when Helen Daniels in 'Neighbours ' had a boyfriend called Reuben.

That was back in the early 90s I think.

My great grandfather was called Reuben and it was on my list 9 years ago but had a daughter.
Then i met somebody whose grandson had just been name RUEBEN, nickname Rue. And that misspelling put me off it for ever!

I have a Reuben - he's coming up five.
We chose it because we liked it and also because of the meaning (behold a son).

And Ruben isn't an incorrect spelling - it's the Spanish way to spell it (I have a friend with a Spanish husband and a Ruben!)

But wasn't Joseph written in 1970-ish? We performed it at primary school in 1989.

'Gad' has a certain ring to it

The only Reuben I know is in his 20s, and it was an uncommon choice at the time.
I have a Joseph who is 14 and haven't met any others.

Lovely name. Isn't it part of the general fashion for Old Testament names on boys? I'd suspect more likely it's come via a copying of American names, or is just one of those things.

I love a good Old Testament name on a boy but not sure it's specifically the sons of Jacob that are fashionable. Quite a lot of Seths, Elijahs, Jonahs and Jesses around, for example.

I sang in a production of Joseph aged 10ish, and if I have some obscure need to name the twelve tribes of Israel, I can still run through the song in my head even at the wrong side of 40. Remembering the kids packed lunch, where I parked the car or my own phone number is another matter

I picked it as it is a Hebrew name and we liked it's meaning.
Also as we didn't use it for DS1 it was always on our list.

Sorry, I posted a bit flippantly, yesterday.

I want to add that I do like the name Reuben, and I wonder if some of it's increased popularity is also down to the racing driver Rubens Barrichello.

I know at least 2 Reubens, definitely getting more popular. It's a nice name. Quite popular in the States too I believe.

The current popularity of Reuben here, is not a reflection of the name's popularity here in the States, as a couple of people have suggested.

The opposite is true.

Ruben is the more used spelling over here, reflecting the Hispanic population, and while that had a steady spelling of being in the mid to late 100-and-somethings during the 70's, 80's and most of the 90's, it is now on the decline. It was ranked #371 in 2015. Ruben has never entered the Top 100 or Top 150 in the States.

Reuben is even lower. Much lower. It was ranked #881 in 2015. It was at its most popular in the 1900's/10's/20's with most of those years spent in the early 200-somethings, it has only spent a handful of years (just) inside the Top 200. The 30's through to the 90's, it was largely found in the middle of the Top 1000 (the SSA produce a Top 1000 here), ranging from the 300's to the 600's. Since the 90's however, like Ruben, it has been falling further. In 2012 it was almost out the Top 1000 at #972.

Basically, what I'm saying is, during the two decades the name has been soaring in the UK, it has been falling over here in the States.

Whatever the reason for the popularity in the UK, it's nothing to do with the trend over here. Reuben is seen as being Jewish - very Jewish - over here, and I think that's why it hasn't really caught on. Even Nehemiah is far more popular than Reuben.

NB: Love the name though, it's my dad's name. It was ranked #499 here the year he was born. And yes, we're Jewish!

Stumbleine I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves the name for silly reasons!

Cordelia that's interesting about the popularity in the states, although I suspect the popularity differs wildly from state to state - a bit like our Scottish/English/Irish names. I find name trends really fascinating!

BogBurglar I suspect you're right about the general trend for OT names, if I have another it will probably be given an OT name! Also very impressed that you can still remember all the names! I can do the colours but that's it!