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Original poster

Reuben popularity

33 replies

Linny88 · 06/05/2019 22:55

I’ve always loved the name Reuben and my husband is Jewish so we feel it’s a good name for us. However, I’ve seen lots of comments on here that it’s very popular. We live in London and I work with under 5s and have only heard of one child called Reuben (I’ve been working in London with kids for the past 8 years). I’m really interested to know how popular it is where you live and most importantly what area of the country it is. It’s only 49 on the popularity rankings so I’m wondering why I keep hearing that it’s popular. My friend in Manchester says she feels it’s more common in the north west

The other name we love is Idris as my mother’s welsh....also interested to know if people prefer that to Reuben

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Rosesaredead · 07/05/2019 03:21

I have a Reuben and I only know one other Reuben. I'm in the South East

1Wanda1 · 07/05/2019 03:49

I'm also in the south east, and find Reuben to be quite a popular name here. Think it's become cool.

Mintypea5 · 07/05/2019 03:59

I know a couple? South west here. I love idris as a name! My uncle was called idris and I always felt like it was such a cool name

Womble75 · 07/05/2019 04:11

South East - I have a Reuben - no others around here that I know of. I love the name (obviously!) 😊

rosebb1 · 07/05/2019 06:12

I have a Ruben. Only know of one other at school...at the moment.

Cookit · 07/05/2019 07:32

I like it. It’s not unusual enough to seem out there or hard to spell but similarly you don’t meet that many. South East here and I wouldn’t be surprised to meet a little Reuben but I haven’t yet (nursery, baby groups, friends of friends’ children etc).

MamaofAHH · 07/05/2019 08:01

I know 2 Reuben's, one is my cousin and is a grown man in his 40's (we are Jewish too) and a boy of 7. We are in the south east. I've only seen it popular on here.

Sunshiness · 07/05/2019 08:04

My DNephew's name Smile In London. Also know another at a baby group. If you're concerned about popularity I'd go with Idris instead, lovely name!

EvilDog · 07/05/2019 08:47

I know of quite a few across various toddler groups between th ages of newborn - 4.
There was also 3 reubens born in my April 2017 antenatal group out of 31 baby’s

Sparklysunflower · 07/05/2019 09:58

I think Idris is a great name!

florascotia2 · 07/05/2019 10:04

OP you can do a quick check on popularity here (it's reliable, and based on government statistics and shows trends as well as totals):
names.darkgreener.com/
Reuben = ranked 49th overall in England and Wales.

Or you can look at the government's own interactive site and look at local area statistics: www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/articles/babynameswhereyoulivecouldshapewhatyoucallyourbaby/2018-09-21

SallyWD · 07/05/2019 20:40

My daughter's in year 3 and there are 2 in her class. My son's in year 1 and there's one in his class. I live in Yorkshire. I know a couple of others of primary school age.

JenSFP · 07/05/2019 20:48

Since becoming a mum in 2014 I've lived in Surrey and Bucks and haven't yet come across a Reuben. I've got two children so that includes two different nursery classes and various toddler groups etc and NCT!

aibutohavethisusername · 07/05/2019 21:30

I don’t know any.

Jedd · 07/05/2019 21:32

I'm in Yorkshire and my youngest (7) has 2 in her class and one at her gymnastics club.

hopeful31yrs · 07/05/2019 21:33

My dh wanted Jacob as a first name so Reuben got relegated to a middle name. Haven't met any Reubens in our neck of the woods (south west) but there were 5 Jacobs in his nursery class 🤦🏻‍♀️

BurtTyrannosaurusMacklin · 07/05/2019 21:34

I know 2, one is 2 the other is 1. I don't know that many babies/toddlers really so it feels like quite a high percentage! South East.

Toodleoopuddle · 07/05/2019 21:41

Only know of one here. Don't know any idris ' but they're both amazing names

vdbfamily · 07/05/2019 21:44

It is my favourite boy's name and I only know 2 in real life and they are older and through church so not that surprising as it is a good Biblical name.

64sNewName · 07/05/2019 21:48

I’m in Scotland and know of two Reubens in our primary school.

Russell19 · 07/05/2019 22:05

I'm a teacher and have taught 3 different Reubens in the last 3 years. 49th in England is quite popular really, I would consider top 100 as popular.

SemperIdem · 08/05/2019 01:19

I know one personally, very young, very far from “trendsetting” London.

However - massively popular names now, in 2019, don’t carry the same numbers as they once did. There will never be as many Oliver’s or Olivia’s in the 21st century as there was John’s and Sarah’s in the 1970’s, because people are more adventurous with names now.

Original poster
Linny88 · 08/05/2019 07:43

@evildog where abouts in the country are you? Maybe I will go with Idris if it’s tat common!

OP posts:
Original poster
Linny88 · 08/05/2019 07:46

Thanks for all your info, really useful to know. Seems to be very popular in certain pockets of the country. I’ve mentioned it to a couple of work colleagues/family members who have all said they had never heard of it until recently, but now have one friend who has used it...I think it’s set to become more popular. Might go with Idris then!

OP posts:
Sparklysunflower · 08/05/2019 07:59

Idris is a great name. And definitely less 'trendy' than Reuben. Good choice!