Ruben
behold, a son (Hebrew)
Ruben is a biblical / spanish boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 79, with 100,339 records. It has 2 syllables.
The May 2021 total includes the name written with JR: 84,533 as Ruben, and 15,806 as Ruben Jr.
Origin and meaning
behold, a son (Hebrew)
Ruben originates from the biblical patriarch Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. In the Philippines, the name became deeply rooted during the Spanish colonial period and was adopted through Catholic baptismal customs. It remains a standard, classic masculine name in both urban and rural areas.
Derived from the Hebrew name Re'uven, meaning 'behold, a son'. It entered the Philippines primarily through Spanish Catholic naming traditions (as Rubén) and remains widely used across the archipelago.
Name character
In the Philippines
Commonly shortened to nicknames like 'Ben', 'Bebot', or 'Rubing'. Often used as a standalone name or in compounds like Ruben James or John Ruben.
Related forms
- Rubén Spanish
- Re'uven Hebrew
- Reuben English
- Ruben Dutch
Would your family give Ruben?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Ruben for 2026 yet.
Ruben with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Ruben
How do I use Ruben with two Filipino surnames?
Ruben is the given name. The full name is Ruben + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Ruben a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Ruben is number 79, with 100,339 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.