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.
- #6,987 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 612
- born since 1880
- 1910s
- peak 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.
- #6,987 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 612 born since 1880
- 1910s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rube ranks #6,987 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 612 born since 1880, peaking in the 1910s.
- #6,987 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 612
- born since 1880
- 1910s
- peak decade
Rube's 612 recorded births place it above 84.63% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Texas.
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 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
1910s is the heaviest window (125 births, 20% of the file).
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 by state
Where Rube concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 10 | 1.6% |
10 of 612 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
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
Compare Rube side by side: Rube vs Ruben Rube vs Rubin Rube vs Ruby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Rube: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1917)
Similar record span (~93 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.