Ruben
Boy name · #480 in 2025 · Uniqueness 55/100
In 2025, 632 baby boys were named Ruben, placing it at #480 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #374, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,848 boys born in 2025 was named Ruben.
Babies named Ruben per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Ruben first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 30 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 1,805 boys were named Ruben — good for #178 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ruben against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ruben in class?
Ruben scores 55 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 Ruben is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ruben is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Rubens were TX (164), CA (159), AZ (26), IL (18), NC (18). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ruben
Statistically, parents drawn to Ruben tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ramon, Sean, Roberto, Morgan, and Bryan.
RamonSeanRobertoMorganBryanRaulRicardoJulio
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ruben | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 632 | #480 |
| 2024 | 607 | #504 |
| 2023 | 629 | #481 |
| 2022 | 670 | #458 |
| 2021 | 653 | #460 |
| 2020 | 637 | #465 |
| 2019 | 743 | #415 |
| 2018 | 753 | #416 |
| 2017 | 749 | #418 |
| 2016 | 801 | #396 |
| 2015 | 864 | #374 |
| 2014 | 893 | #359 |
| 2013 | 889 | #355 |
| 2012 | 959 | #329 |
| 2011 | 977 | #323 |
| 2010 | 1,102 | #297 |
| 2009 | 1,199 | #282 |
| 2008 | 1,356 | #257 |
| 2007 | 1,479 | #243 |
| 2006 | 1,597 | #225 |
| 2005 | 1,466 | #234 |
| 2004 | 1,601 | #218 |
| 2003 | 1,655 | #215 |
| 2002 | 1,572 | #219 |
| 2001 | 1,736 | #207 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruben a popular boy name?
Ruben ranked #480 among boys in 2025 with 632 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #374.
When was the name Ruben most popular?
Ruben peaked in 1992, when 1,805 American boys received the name (ranked #178 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ruben?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,848 newborn American boys was named Ruben. It scores 55/100 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.