Is this name ..

[LuckyMum3]

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

Reuben ..

What do you think when you hear this name?

Normal name.

I've met 3 and disliked all of them but I don't think it's because of the name!

Ordinary name, in a good way. It was on my list as a middle name for dc3 because I was sure 'he' was going to be a boy and it means 'see, a son'. She was a girl

It's a Hebrew name.

It's too soft and flowery for my taste. I very much prefer the stronger spelling Ruben.

Class-wise I would say it's mixed, although I've never met a posh one. It's similar to Joshua I guess.

What artist?

Rubens...

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.

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

For me it's the baddie in Black Beauty.

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.

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.

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

@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.

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

Peter Paul Rubens. One of the Old Masters.

Biblical. Middle class. Lovely.

@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

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

Definitely a sandwich!

@KaptainKaveman

Peter Paul Rubens. One of the Old Masters.

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

@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.

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, 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

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

It's a dogs name

@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.)