Meaning & History
Ruvim is a Russian and Ukrainian form of the name Reuben, itself of Hebrew origin meaning "behold, a son" from the Hebrew root raʾa meaning "to see" and ben meaning "son". In the Old Testament (Genesis 29:32), Reuben is the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name has since spread through Biblical traditions into Christian cultures.
Etymology and Variants
Ruvim (Cyrillic: Рувим) derives from the Greek and Church Slavonic transmission of the biblical name. A variant, Rufim (Руфим), is also attested in Slavic cultures. Related names include Rouben in Armenian, Ruben in Swedish and other languages, Reuven in modern Hebrew, and Rubèn in Catalan.
Notable Bearers
The name occurs in East and South Slavic Orthodox traditions. Historical figures include Rufim Njeguš, Metropolitan of Cetinje from 1594 to 1636; Rufim Boljević, Metropolitan of Cetinje from 1662 to 1673; Hadži-Ruvim (1752–1804), an Orthodox archimandrite and significant figure in Serbian national awakening; and Ruvim Frayerman (1891–1972), a Soviet writer.
- Meaning: “behold, a son”
- Origin: Hebrew, via Greek and Church Slavonic
- Type: Biblical name
- Usage Regions: Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, other East/South Slavic
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Ruvim