Ruven

Ruven is a masculine given name and, less commonly, a surname. It is a variant spelling of Reuven, Ruben, and Rubin, whose origins lie in the Hebrew given name ראובן (Reuven). The name is traditionally interpreted as “behold, a son” or “see, a son,” and it appears in the Bible as Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, giving it historical and religious resonance in Jewish and Christian communities.

In contemporary use, Ruven is found primarily in German-speaking and Dutch-speaking regions, where it is treated as a standard given name. Variants such as Reuven and Ruben are common in Israel and among Hebrew- and Romance-language communities, respectively. The surname form Ruven is rare but attested in some cases, often through kinship or transliteration practices.

Notable individuals with the given name include those in the arts, sports, and academia, reflecting its cross-cultural reach. The name’s spelling variations continue to reflect regional orthography and language influences. See also Reuven, Ruben.