Ruben
Meaning of Ruben
Ruben—pronounced the same breezy way you’d call out “Roo-ben!” across a cricket field—is a globe-trotting cousin of the Biblical Reuben, born from the Hebrew cry “Behold, a son!” yet just as happy salsa-dancing through Spanish-speaking streets as Rubén. Picture him as the firstborn in Jacob’s ancient lineup, later swapping his shepherd’s staff for a paintbrush alongside Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens and, on weekends, sliding into a grilled-cheese sandwich (yes, that famous New York deli treat). In India’s mind’s eye he’s the quick-witted friend who spices every story like a dash of garam masala—traditional at heart, cosmopolitan in spirit. Parents love that his popularity chart in the U.S. rises and falls like the monsoon—never a flood, never a drought—so a little Ruben will share his name enough to feel familiar but not so much that it echoes through every classroom. All in all, Ruben is short, sweet, and ever ready for adventure.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as ROO-ben (/ˈruːbən/)
Spanish
- Pronunced as roo-BEN (/ru.ˈβen/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ruben
| Ruben Studdard is an American singer and actor who rose to fame by winning American Idol and has a Grammy-nominated music career with hit albums. |
| Ruben Salazar was a Los Angeles Times reporter and civil rights activist who became the first Mexican journalist in mainstream media to cover the Chicano community. |
| Ruben Gallego - Rubén Marinelarena Gallego is a Democratic U.S. senator from Arizona and a Marine Corps veteran, having previously served in the U.S. House and Arizona House of Representatives. |
| Ruben Yttergård Jenssen is a Norwegian midfielder playing for Tromsø and the national team, following his father's legacy in football. |
| Ruben Ter Minasian was an Armenian Revolutionary Federation politician pivotal to the national liberation movement and the First Republic of Armenia. |
| Ruben Bemelmans is a Belgian coach and former tennis player who reached career-high rankings of world No. 84 in singles and No. 128 in doubles, primarily competing on the ATP Challenger Tour. |
| Ruben Santiago-Hudson is an award-winning American actor, playwright, and director, best known for his role in Castle and his Screen Writers Guild nomination for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. |
| Ruben Bertrand Boumtje-Boumtje is a Cameroonian former NBA player who retired due to a heart condition and now serves as a basketball executive. |
| Ruben Nicolai is a Dutch comedian and television presenter famous for his work on De Lama's, Lego Masters, and The Masked Singer. |
| Ruben Ecleo Sr. - Ruben Edera Ecleo Sr. was a Filipino religious leader who founded the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association and served as mayor of Dinagat, Surigao del Norte for over two decades. |
| Ruben Rodríguez is a Filipino chess International Master who earned his title in 1978 and won the Asian Team Chess Championship. |
| Ruben Christopher Carter is a professional football center for the Massachusetts Pirates, having played college football for Florida State and Toledo before signing with the Miami Dolphins in 2016. |
| Rubén Darío was a Nicaraguan poet who founded the modernismo movement, profoundly shaping Spanish-language literature and journalism. |
| Rubén González Cárdenas was a Venezuelan lawyer who held significant political roles, including Minister of Public Instruction and Minister of Internal Affairs. |
