Reuben is a Hebrew name that means "behold, a son", the words Leah speaks in Genesis when her first child is born; Reuben is the eldest of Jacob's twelve sons and the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. In the United States the name has also lent itself to the famous corned-beef sandwich. Reuben has stayed quietly in the top 1000 every year since 2000, peaking at number 739 in 2002 and ranking 889th in 2025.