Benjamin: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced BEN-juh-min · 3 syllables
Benjamin means “son of the right hand”, from Hebrew.
From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek (Beniamin), from Biblical Hebrew (binyamin, literally “son of the right/south or son of days”). Authorities differ on the meaning of the original Hebrew.
- Meaning
- son of the right hand
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- BEN-juh-min
- US rank (2025)
- #11
- US babies a year
- about 10,558 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1980
- Style
- Vintage, Comeback, Classic, Biblical
- Nicknames
- Ben
How popular is Benjamin?
Benjamin was the #11 name in the US in 2025, given to 9,770 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1980.
Most popular in Rhode Island (#6), Washington (#6), Delaware (#7), Massachusetts (#7), Oregon (#7), Pennsylvania (#7), California (#9), Florida (#9).
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #11 |
| England & Wales | #40 |
| Scotland | #65 |
| Northern Ireland | #71 |
| Ireland | #86 |
| France | #199 |
| Norway | #48 |
| Canada | #9 |
| Australia | #50 |
How old are people named Benjamin?
Half of US adults named Benjamin are older than 37; most are between 20 and 68. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Benjamin
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Benjamin have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Benjamin
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- The most popular boy names in the US
- Classic boy names
- Vintage boy names
- Comeback boy names
- Biblical boy names
- Hebrew boy names
Questions about Benjamin
What does the name Benjamin mean?
Benjamin means “son of the right hand”. It comes from Hebrew.
How do you pronounce Benjamin?
Benjamin is pronounced BEN-juh-min.
How popular is the name Benjamin?
Benjamin was the #11 name in the US in 2025, given to 9,770 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1980.
How old are people named Benjamin?
Half of US adults named Benjamin are older than 37. Most are between 20 and 68.