Reuben
Boy name · #884 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
Reuben ranks #884 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 269 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #868, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,691 boys born in 2025 was named Reuben.
The 145-year story
Reuben first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 92 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 465 boys were named Reuben — good for #254 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Reuben per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Reuben against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Reuben in class?
Reuben scores 59 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Reuben is most common
Geography matters for names, and Reuben is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Reubens were PA (28), MI (15), NY (15), MO (14), CA (13). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Reuben
Statistically, parents drawn to Reuben tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ben, Wilson, Carmen, Roland, and Alvin.
BenWilsonCarmenRolandAlvinAntonMervinErvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Reuben | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 269 | #883 |
| 2024 | 283 | #857 |
| 2023 | 303 | #809 |
| 2022 | 285 | #852 |
| 2021 | 263 | #879 |
| 2020 | 246 | #907 |
| 2019 | 245 | #890 |
| 2018 | 229 | #927 |
| 2017 | 240 | #895 |
| 2016 | 251 | #874 |
| 2015 | 258 | #868 |
| 2014 | 267 | #844 |
| 2013 | 237 | #880 |
| 2012 | 215 | #946 |
| 2011 | 215 | #928 |
| 2010 | 202 | #976 |
| 2009 | 242 | #867 |
| 2008 | 223 | #918 |
| 2007 | 226 | #889 |
| 2006 | 236 | #851 |
| 2005 | 222 | #834 |
| 2004 | 226 | #798 |
| 2003 | 233 | #760 |
| 2002 | 236 | #738 |
| 2001 | 220 | #774 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Reuben a popular boy name?
Reuben ranked #884 among boys in 2025 with 269 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #868.
When was the name Reuben most popular?
Reuben peaked in 1920, when 465 American boys received the name (ranked #254 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Reuben?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,691 newborn American boys was named Reuben. It scores 59/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.