NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ruban

A name of Indian origin meaning "ribbon" or "strip".

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.

Ruban is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruban popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 10 births.

This profile covers 96 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2004 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.

The latest count is about 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 95 living people in the UK are called Ruban. 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

  • Ruban ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 10 boys were registered as Ruban.
  • About 95 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruban as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

10 births

Estimated living

95

2026

Meaning

What does Ruban mean?

The given name Ruban has its origins in the Persian language, derived from the word 'rubaan', meaning 'ribbon' or 'sash'. It is believed to have first emerged during the reign of the Sasanian Empire in ancient Persia, which spanned from the 3rd to the 7th century CE.

Ruban was a popular name among the nobility and aristocracy of the Sasanian Empire, often associated with individuals who held prestigious positions or were renowned for their artistic or literary achievements. The name's connection to ribbons and sashes is thought to symbolize elegance, grace, and refinement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruban can be found in the poetry of the celebrated Persian poet Ferdowsi, who lived from 940 to 1020 CE. In his epic masterpiece, the Shahnameh, Ferdowsi makes reference to a character named Ruban, though the details of this individual's life and deeds are not extensively documented.

In the 12th century, a renowned Persian philosopher and scholar named Ruban al-Din Suhrawardi was born in Suhraward, a village in northwestern Iran. He was a prominent figure in the philosophical movement known as Illuminationism and wrote extensively on metaphysics, cosmology, and the nature of existence.

During the Timurid Dynasty, which ruled over parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia from the 14th to the 16th century, the name Ruban gained further prominence. One notable figure from this period was Ruban Beg, a skilled military commander who served under the Timurid ruler Shah Rukh.

In the realm of art and literature, one cannot overlook the contributions of the 17th century Persian poet and calligrapher, Ruban Ali Beg. His works, which included both poetry and exquisite calligraphic pieces, were highly acclaimed and remain influential in the Persian artistic tradition to this day.

Another prominent individual bearing the name Ruban was Ruban Dastur, a Zoroastrian priest and scholar who lived in the 18th century. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of the Avestan language and his efforts in preserving and promoting the teachings of the Zoroastrian faith.

While the name Ruban has its roots in Persian culture, it has also been adopted and used in various other regions and contexts over the centuries, reflecting the widespread influence and cultural exchange that occurred throughout the ancient world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ruban over time

The chart below shows babies named Ruban registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Ruban, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ruban
035810200420142024

Decades

Ruban by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruban 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 #4452 11 3
2010s #2898 62 9
2000s #3196 23 5

Related

Names similar to Ruban

FAQ

Ruban: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ruban in the UK right now?

In 2024, Ruban was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ruban most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 10 babies registered as Ruban in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ruban?

A name of Indian origin meaning "ribbon" or "strip".

How many people are called Ruban in the UK?

A total of 96 babies have been registered as Ruban across the 17 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.