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Baby names

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

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!

OP posts:
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northbynorthwesty · 22/04/2018 13:30

Really like these names .Not sure if Reuben would be shortened to Ruby. Never heard it shortened at all to be honest.

Gabrielle for a girl? Obviously

TatianaLarina · 22/04/2018 13:43

Really don’t like Rueben.

What about Raphael or Rory? Or Jacob, Joshua, Jude, Zachary, Noah

TatianaLarina · 22/04/2018 13:43

Gabe and Jake or Zach would be cool.

MinisWin · 22/04/2018 13:47

Agree I’ve never heard Reuben shortened. Though if anything I think it might be more likely to shorten to ‘Roo’ rather than Rubey? The little Gabriel I know is ‘G’ or his full name.

WisestIsShe · 22/04/2018 13:48

I know a Reuben who is rube, or rubey do , or sometimes scooby! I used to know a Gabriel who was Gabe or G on the odd times his name was shortened.
Reuben and Gabriel are lovely together.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 22/04/2018 13:53

I'd go with Roo and Gabe for nns. I don't think a boy would appreciate being called Rubey.
Ideas for girls
Gabrielle and Rosabelle
Florence and Lilibelle
Matilda and Evelyn
Dorothy and Beatrix

FetchMeMyLatte · 22/04/2018 14:12

Only know Gabriel's being shortened to 'Gabe'
Reuben's I know of are either 'Roo' or 'Ben'
I don't like either name BUT they match nicely and are really good twin names. They're in the same category name-wise when I think about them (maybe why I dislike them) so go well together IMO :)

bionicnemonic · 22/04/2018 14:14

This has to be the first time on MN that I’ve loved both names!

user1490016445 · 22/04/2018 15:59

thanks all!

OP posts:
SelkieUnderLand · 22/04/2018 16:02

I love Reuben and Gabriel.

I like Raphael but I think Raphael and Gabriel together is too arc Angelic Grin

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.

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.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 22/04/2018 17:39

Reu/Roo and Gabe.

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?

pipilangstrumpf · 23/04/2018 10:27

Gabriel often becomes Gabe

Reuben can be Reuby or Reubs.

I wouldn't shorten them at all!

Winchester13 · 23/04/2018 10:32

Gabriel is my fave boys name and Reuben is quite nice

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?

ShowOfHands · 23/04/2018 10:39

Every Reuben I know is Roo for short.

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.

pipilangstrumpf · 23/04/2018 12:16

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

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

strawberrypenguin · 23/04/2018 12:35

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

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

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!

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.

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