Ruel

Meaning of Ruel

Ruel is a masculine given name of Hebrew provenance, originating as a variant of the biblical Reuel—comprised of the elements re’e, meaning “friend,” and El, denoting “God”—thereby etymologically signifying “friend of God.” In canonical Hebrew texts, the name designates the Midianite priest traditionally called Jethro and appears again among the progeny of Gideon, embedding the appellation within seminal Israelite narratives. Although historical onomastic studies occasionally link Ruel to the Old French Raoul (itself derived from the Germanic Radulf), the name has persistently maintained its distinct Semitic identity across cultural transmissions. Phonetically rendered as ROO-el (/ˈruːəl/), its concise bisyllabic structure exemplifies a synthesis of classical gravitas and contemporary brevity. Within the Anglo-American naming landscape, Ruel’s usage remains relatively rare; its 2024 ranking as the 913th most popular masculine name in the United States, with eleven recorded instances, attests to a modest yet enduring presence among connoisseurs of biblically rooted nomenclature.

Pronunciation

American English

• Pronunced as ROO-el (/ˈruːəl/)

• Remy
• Reuben
• Rowan
• Rylan
• Ruben
• Russell