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Baby names

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

Max or Reuben

28 replies

Zozo1982 · 02/04/2018 12:19

Baby has arrived but we can't decide between Max and Reuben. Older sister is Zoe. What do you think? Is one more timeless than the other?

OP posts:
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Emma198 · 02/04/2018 12:20

Congratulations! I'd go Reuben. X

Sophronia · 02/04/2018 12:37

Congrats! I like Max with Zoe

ChocolateCrunch · 02/04/2018 12:59

I'd choose Max. Congratulations!

mnahmnah · 02/04/2018 13:06

We have a Reuben so I’m biased! The only thing i’ll say is i’m surprised how many people have commented how unusual it is. I’ve never thought of it as such. It also gets spelt wrong quite a lot (well, wrong for our spelling, which is the biblical version, so correct to me!). If either of these things bother you i’d go Max Smile

daisypond · 02/04/2018 13:18

I don't like Max as a name in its own right, so for that reason I'd go for Reuben. ( can't say I'm keen though - I don't think it "goes" with Zoe at all, if that bothers you). If Max was short for something else, then I much prefer Max...

TheVanguardSix · 02/04/2018 13:23

Both are very popular.
Reuben is very popular among babies.
Max goes better with Zoe.

I'm American. Reuben will always be a sandwich to me. I always think 'pastrami on rye' when I hear this name. Always.
Max is the better option. It's just a stronger name, really.

TheVanguardSix · 02/04/2018 13:23

Congratulations, by the way!

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 13:50

Max. It goes better with Zoe, and I much prefer it. Reuben is ok but I'd use it as a middle name to avoid nicknames like Roo and Ruby.

stellinaa · 02/04/2018 13:55

Max definitely goes better with Zoe imo. Prefer as a nickname for Maxwell though

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 14:01

Reuben can be spelt Ruben or Rubin too and people will misspell it, often as Rueben.

MikeUniformMike · 02/04/2018 14:01

Congratulations!

Zozo1982 · 02/04/2018 14:02

I think we have decided on Max. Still pondering the longer version but progress has been made!

OP posts:
SerenaVanDerWoodsen · 02/04/2018 14:09

Congratulations! Glad you’ve decided. For what it’s worth, I was about to vote for Max. I love that name. Smile I’m not particularly a fan of Reuben and it seems more prevalent around here for babies and young children.
Good luck choosing the other names

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 02/04/2018 18:40

Max.

NameChange30 · 02/04/2018 18:43

Good choice! I do like Reuben but prefer Max. My favourite long version is Maxim (Russian in origin, also used in France but spelt Maxime which I find a bit feminine to the English eye).

AnyaMoondial · 03/04/2018 04:08

Congratulations op! Max is a great name. I vote Maxwell for the long version. Love it.

finallychangedmyusername · 03/04/2018 07:59

Max is fabulous alongside Zoe (although I love Reuben too)

Awrite · 03/04/2018 08:02

Definitely Max.

Yogagirl123 · 03/04/2018 08:09

Good choice Max and Zoe sound great together. Many congrats on your new baby.

ReversingSnail · 03/04/2018 08:33

Reuben

summermeadows · 03/04/2018 12:10

Good choice OP although I'm biased Wink

My Max doesn't have a 'longer' version on his birth certificate.

chezmk1988 · 03/04/2018 21:51

Love both but max sounds better with zoe

Pixel99 · 05/04/2018 16:51

Was going to vote for Reuben

sinceyouask · 05/04/2018 17:02

Max, but honestly I like them both very much

ajandjjmum · 05/04/2018 17:12

My Max is just Max too summermeadows.

I think of coffee when it's Maxwell, and find Maximilian a little pretentious - plus we used William as a family middle name.

DS is in his 20's and would have preferred a longer version of his name, although he's never specified what! Grin