UK boy's name
Reuel
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend of God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Reuel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Reuel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1199, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 23 births.
This profile covers 219 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Reuel is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 218 living people in the UK are called Reuel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Reuel ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 23 boys were registered as Reuel.
- • About 218 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reuel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1199
2024
Births in 2024
23
Latest year
Peak year
2024
23 births
Estimated living
218
2026
Meaning
What does Reuel mean?
The name Reuel is of Hebrew origin and is believed to have its roots in the ancient Semitic languages. It is thought to be derived from the Hebrew words "ra'ah" meaning "to see" and "El" meaning "God". Thus, the name Reuel can be interpreted as "friend of God" or "God is friend".
The earliest known reference to the name Reuel is found in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Exodus. Reuel was the name of Moses' father-in-law, who was also known as Jethro. He was a Midianite priest and is mentioned as providing guidance and advice to Moses during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Reuel was a French scholar and theologian who lived in the 12th century. Reuel of Auxerre was a prominent figure in the scholastic movement and is known for his commentaries on several books of the Bible.
In the 17th century, Reuel Reynoldes was an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including a book titled "The Humble Sinner's Complaining".
During the 18th century, Reuel Keith was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy. He is known for his involvement in various naval battles and expeditions during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
In the 19th century, Reuel Williams was an American author and editor who worked for various publications, including the New York Mirror and the Boston Quarterly Review. He is also known for his poetry and literary criticisms.
Another notable individual with the name Reuel was Reuel Calhoun Gilchrist, an American politician who served as the 20th Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913.
While the name Reuel has its roots in ancient Hebrew and is found in religious texts, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in fields such as religion, literature, military, and politics.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Reuel over time
The chart below shows babies named Reuel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Reuel, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reuel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reuel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1982 | 66 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2633 | 80 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2495 | 63 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2740 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Reuel
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Reuel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Reuel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Reuel was ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.
When was Reuel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 23 babies registered as Reuel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Reuel?
A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend of God".
How many people are called Reuel in the UK?
A total of 219 babies have been registered as Reuel across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.