ראובן
Reuven means “behold, a son”
Reuven is a boy's name of Biblical origin.
Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah and father of a tribe of Israel.
- In Hebrew
- ראובן
- In English letters
- Reuven
- Other English spellings
- Reuben, Ruben, Reuvain, Ruven
- Other Hebrew spellings
- רובן
- Meaning
- Behold, a son
- Origin
- Biblical
- Given to
- Boys
- Themes
- From the Bible
- Gematria value
- 259
11,646 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Reuven.
- 5 of them are women and girls, and 11,641 are men and boys.
- 318 of them were born in 1951, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 459, against 501 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is about the same.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: רובן. The chart shows the spelling ראובן alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Reuven is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling ראובן today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish girls | 5 | 0 | – |
| Jewish boys | 11,425 | 72 | 172 of 541 |
| Druze boys | 6 | 0 | – |
In 2024, Reuven ranked 172 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Reuven in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Reuven.
What does the name Reuven mean?
Reuven means “behold, a son”. Reuven is a boy's name of Biblical origin. Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah and father of a tribe of Israel.
Is Reuven a boy's name or a girl's name?
Reuven is mainly a boy's name. Of the 11,646 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 5 are women and girls and 11,641 are men and boys.
How do you write Reuven in Hebrew?
Reuven is written ראובן in Hebrew. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: רובן.
How many people in Israel are named Reuven?
11,646 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Reuven today. The most were born in 1951. In 2024, Reuven ranked 172 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.