Benjamin
Benjamin is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “son of the right hand.” It ranked #11 in the United States in 2025. From the Hebrew Binyamin, meaning 'son of the right hand' or 'son of the south.'
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how do you pronounce Benjamin?
BEN-jah-min
where does the name Benjamin come from?
From the Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin), joining ben, meaning son, with yamin, meaning right hand. Because Hebrew orientation faced east, yamin also meant south, so the name can be read as son of the south — though the right hand sense, implying favour and strength, is the one usually intended.
In the Hebrew Bible, Benjamin was the youngest and beloved son of Jacob and Rachel, the patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name has remained continuously popular across Western cultures.
how popular is this name?
Benjamin has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #6 in 2016, and ranked #11 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #11 |
| 2024 | #11 |
| 2023 | #11 |
| 2022 | #9 |
| 2021 | #7 |
| 2020 | #7 |
| 2019 | #7 |
| 2018 | #6 |
| 2017 | #6 |
| 2016 | #6 |
| 2010 | #22 |
| 2000 | #26 |
| 1990 | #33 |
| 1980 | #32 |
| 1970 | #81 |
| 1960 | #155 |
| 1950 | #123 |
| 1940 | #128 |
| 1930 | #115 |
| 1920 | #83 |
| 1910 | #70 |
| 1900 | #57 |
| 1890 | #37 |
| 1880 | #32 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Benjamin fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Benjamin
Genesis records the naming twice over: Rachel, dying in childbirth, calls him Ben-Oni, son of my sorrow, and Jacob immediately renames him Binyamin. The tribe of Benjamin produced Israel's first king, Saul. Benjamin Franklin carried the name into the modern age, and it has stayed in the American top twenty for decades.
who are famous people named Benjamin?
- Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father)
- Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister)
- Ben Affleck (actor)
- Ben Stiller (actor)
what are the nicknames and variants of Benjamin?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Benjamin?
what names go well with Benjamin?
Sibling names that share Benjamin's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Benjamin
What does the name Benjamin mean?
Benjamin means “son of the right hand”.
What is the origin of the name Benjamin?
Benjamin comes from the Hebrew naming tradition. Related forms include Benjamín, Beniamino and Binyamin.
How popular is the name Benjamin?
Benjamin ranked #11 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2016, at #6, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Benjamin a boy or girl name?
Benjamin is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Benjamin?
Benjamin is pronounced BEN-jah-min, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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