Total births
612
Boys' name · since 1880
Rube
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 612 babies named Rube, peaking in 1917. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 612
- total births
- 1880–1973
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
612 boys have been named Rube since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Rube recorded 612 times among boys since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1910s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 1973.
- 612 total births
- 1880–1973 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 20% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
612 boys have been named Rube since 1880, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1973.
- 612
- total births
- 1880–1973
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Rube was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
25 babies were named Rube in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
Rube's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Rube splits its recorded history at 1917: 50% of all births land in the more recent half, 50% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1882 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1917 peak of 25 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Rube at a glance
Last recorded 1973Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Rube popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1973
- Peak year (1917)
- 25
- Annual births at peak, across 94 years of records
Rube by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Rube's strongest decade.
125 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Rube births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s
1880s
86 births
- 1890s
1890s
66 births
- 1900s
1900s
77 births
- 1910s
1910s
125 births
- 1920s
1920s
115 births
- 1930s
1930s
67 births
- 1940s 43
1940s
43 births
- 1950s 22
1950s
22 births
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 125 births (20% of all-time use).
How Rube compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Rube's total volume
Rube vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rube by state
Where Rube concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 10 | 1.6% |
Texas share of Rube's total US births 1.6%
10 of 612 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rube? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 612 babies named Rube. The most recent recorded year was 1973. Its busiest year on record was 1917, with 25 births.
When was Rube most popular? ▼
Rube was most popular in the 1910s decade with 125 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Rube most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rube are Texas (10 births).
How long has the name Rube been used? ▼
Records for Rube go back to 1880, giving 94 years of history through 1973.
What names are similar to Rube? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ruben, Rubin, Ruby, Rubert, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rube's data
- Rube's decade-level peak was the 1910s (125 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Rubes (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Rube
Nearby Names Like Rube
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rube
Ruben Boy
#504 116,552 births
Rubin Boy
#6470 7,054 births
Ruby Boy
#5246 3,114 births
Rubert Boy
491 births
Ruble Boy
291 births
Compare Rube side by side: Rube vs Ruben Rube vs Rubin Rube vs Ruby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–1973 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rube: Baby Name Since 1880 - 612 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rube. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rube draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.