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Reuben vs Uriel

Which is more popular?
Uriel is more popular than Reuben today: about 708 US babies were given the name Uriel in 2025, compared with 269 named Reuben.
ReubenUriel
Meaning behold, a son Flame of God
Origin hebrew hebrew
Gender Boy Boy
Pronunciation ROO-ben OOR-ee-el
Syllables 2 3
First appeared18801913
Peak year1920 (465)2008 (789)
In 2025269708
TrendSteadySteady
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Reuben Uriel
18801900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeReubenUriel
2020s 1,649 3,838
2010s 2,359 5,747
2000s 2,279 6,439
1990s 2,436 3,412
1980s 2,759 941
1970s 2,542 344
1960s 2,076 134
1950s 2,193 53
1940s 2,060 17
1930s 2,269 26
1920s 3,860 80
1910s 3,274 44
1900s 820 0
1890s 828 0
1880s 741 0

What does Reuben mean?

Hebrew Re'uven, literally 'behold, a son!' (re'u 'see, behold' + ben 'son'). Genesis 29:32 layers a second biblical wordplay on it: Leah says 'the LORD has looked upon (ra'ah) my affliction' — that play is theological rather than the strict etymology.

What does Uriel mean?

Hebrew name combining 'ur' ('light, flame') with 'el' ('God'), usually translated 'God is my light' or 'flame of God'. Uriel is an archangel traditionally linked with fire; the element 'ur' carries both 'light' and 'flame' senses, so the fire reading is one of two.

Frequently asked questions

Is Reuben or Uriel more popular?

Uriel is more popular than Reuben today: about 708 US babies were given the name Uriel in 2025, compared with 269 named Reuben.

What is the difference between Reuben and Uriel?

Reuben means behold, a son (hebrew origin), while Uriel means Flame of God (hebrew origin).

Which name is older, Reuben or Uriel?

In US records, Reuben first appears in 1880 and Uriel in 1913, so Reuben has the longer recorded history.