Reuben - how Jewish are we talking?

[suzimum]

Hi all. I love the name Reuben but had previously discounted it since I had thought it was considered very Jewish and not being Jewish myself, wondered if people would think this was a strange choice. I know it is an Old Testament name like so many others, but it seem more Jewish than others!

I'd be interested to hear your views!

Thanks

Hi Maggie Pie - No I don't think people have an obligation to know the bible, but for me personally I would want to know the story behind the name. For example I had a name I really liked and was then a bit put off when I discovered it was the name of the ugly sister who Jacob was tricked into marrying. However it was a very pretty name with lots of other meanings too. I'd take all these into account but I think it's fine to just go on the name you like.

I seriously considered Reuben for my 7 year old daughter (iykwim). I'm interested in names and know what a lot of the mainstream names mean. None of the name books I consulted (and I had about three!) mentioned anything about him being one of a band of evil brothers!). So I think it would be quite easy for that piece of information to pass people by.

I'm not by any stretch of the imagination religious, but I went to church regularly growing up and still go occasionally and I honestly was completely unaware of the evil brothers thing.

Obviously if I had a Reuben, I'd rather have known before rather than after though!

I still remember doing Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in school and it was in one of the songs that Reuben was the eldest brother. But it's probably hard to find a name that hasn't, somewhere in history, been given to someone dodgy. It's a difficult one and if you looked into it in too much depth you could probably find a reason to discount every name there is.

I don't think it's weird to use an OT name if you're not Jewish. After all, if Reuben was one of Joseph's brothers, why is his name off bounds and Benjamin (the youngest brother) is a totally common place name in the UK?

Deffo not strictly for Jewish boys only and it's a lovely name.

I want it for my 2nd son (who isn't even conceived yet) but DP has completely vetoed it.

I really like this name, considering it for DS2. Still loads of time yet to decide and will have to wait and see if he looks like a 'Reuben'.

I hadn't known it was a Jewish name until reading this thread but that has not put me off the name at all. Neither has the evil brothers story in the Bible!

My eldest son has Reuben as his middle name.I have not been asked if I am Jewish .I have been asked if we are Spanish or South American.

‘Moondog’ - Don’t like it. Whether you are Jewish, Zoroastrian or Buddhist.

Reuben

I love it, actually just heard of a new born baby called Reuben.

The Hebrew names are generally lovely and very popular - think Matthew, Moah, Nathan, Isaac.

Go for it.

Noah not Moah.

I didn’t know it was a Jewish name. I know two little Reubens and neither are Jewish x

I would assume that someone named Isaac, Abraham or Reuben are Jewish.

Gosh no one i know in my town called Isaac is Jewish (I know 3) . It’s a fairly popular name round here. My Jewish friends have boys but none are called Isaac or Reuben

I don’t think it sounds Jewish at all

Zombie thread - Reuben would be ten years old now.

you can be both of those nationalities and still be Jewish you know...:)

I would assume a Reuben was Jewish

I think of it as "old Testament" Biblical rather than "Jewish". It's not as common as Benjamin/Rebecca etc but I think it's dispersed into normalcy to a significant degree too not sound odd if you're not Jewish. Only Reuben I've ever met is Asian!

This is a zombie thread from 2009 when the current wave of OT boys’ names was only just beginning and Reuben was a more unusual choice than it is now. Oliver had just knocked Jack off the top spot and although Noah was moderately popular I don’t think many people would have had it picked as the next #1 name!