Ruben vs Simon
Ruben and Simoncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ruben was ranked #126 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ruben was ranked #130 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Ruben was ranked #269 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Ruben was ranked #163 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ruben was ranked #188 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Ruben and Simon over time
Ruben and Simon appear together in 4 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ruben in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Ruben moved ahead of Simon in England and Wales · Boys — #191 and #177 the year before became #172 and #227.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ruben and Simon changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1956 and 2025, ending at #269 and #159.
- Longest-running competitions
Ruben and Simon were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 66 years, from 1956 to 2025, ending at #269 and #159.
List by list
Norway · Boys66 shared years, 1956–2025
Ruben held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Simon in 64.
Highest recorded here: Ruben #52 in 1995, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruben #269, Simon #159.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ruben held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Simon in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ruben #110 in 2021, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Ruben moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #191 and #177; by 2005 that had become #172 and #227.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruben #126, Simon #524.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1976–2025
Ruben held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Simon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ruben #178 in 2021, Simon #62 in 1976.
The order changed in 2021: Ruben moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #226 and #219; by 2021 that had become #178 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruben #188, Simon #244.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2004–2022
Ruben held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Simon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ruben #163 in 2022, Simon #169 in 2004.
The order changed in 2013: Ruben moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #273 and #247; by 2013 that had become #244 and #343.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ruben #163, Simon #311.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Ruben | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #188 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ruben and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Ruben
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #349 among boys in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1953–2025
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Norway, in 1995 (recorded 1953–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #269 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys