Fun Facts About the Name Benjamin
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 826,724 boys named Benjamin from 1880 through 2025.
- Back among the favorites: Benjamin returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 58 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 829 thousand babies named Benjamin: U.S. records list 829,206 babies given the name Benjamin from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,482 girls received the name Benjamin - about 1 girl for every 333 boys.
What Does the Name Benjamin Mean?
Benjamin is a Hebrew name meaning "son of the right hand" (also understood as "son of the south"). It comes from the Hebrew Binyāmīn (בִּנְיָמִין), formed from ben (בֵּן), "son," and yamin (יָמִין), which can mean "right hand" or "south."
The two parts of the Hebrew name are clear, but the sense of the second part is debated. If yamin means "right hand," the name carries the idea of a son of strength, favor, or the right side. If it means "south," the name may refer to Benjamin's birth in Canaan, south of the region where his brothers were born. Traditional Jewish and Christian readings often favor "son of the right hand," but that is a customary interpretation rather than a separate origin.
In the book of Genesis, Rachel names her son Ben-oni (בֶּן־אוֹנִי), "son of my sorrow," as she is dying, and Jacob gives him the name Benjamin. The biblical story thus presents the name as Jacob's choice; it does not change the Hebrew etymology of Binyāmīn. No separate origin outside Hebrew is known.
Benjamin Name History & Origins
Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Hebrew Bible, and the full brother of Joseph. His tribe, the Tribe of Benjamin, settled in central Canaan. King Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjaminite, and after the kingdom split, the tribe remained with Judah. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul identifies himself as a member of the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5).
The name passed into Greek as Beniamin (Βενιαμίν) in the Septuagint and the New Testament, and into Latin as Beniamin. English Benjamin follows this tradition. Other European forms include Spanish Benjamín, Italian Beniamino, French Benjamin, and German Benjamin. Russian Veniamin reflects the Byzantine Greek form. In English, the name appears in the Middle Ages; like other Old Testament names, it gained wider use among Protestants after the Reformation.
In modern English, benjamin is also a common noun for a youngest or favorite son, a usage derived from the biblical figure. Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904) is a well-known later literary use of the name, not part of its origin.
How Popular is the Name Benjamin?
Benjamin ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1926, then returned in 1968 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,099 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #13,689 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #11,333 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #9,790 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #8,547 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #9,660 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #7,798 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #6,049 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #10,825 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #8,979 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #6,763 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #7,036 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #6,511 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #7,867 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #5,571 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #5,805 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2009 | #10,081 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #6,156 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2007 | #7,439 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #9,381 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #6,304 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #2,509 | 67 | 0.0036% |
| 2003 | #5,445 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2002 | #4,653 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2001 | #6,368 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #4,811 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,213 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1998 | #5,841 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,847 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1996 | #4,322 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1995 | #4,363 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #3,457 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1993 | #4,109 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #3,694 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1991 | #3,454 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 1990 | #2,907 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1989 | #2,197 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 1988 | #1,456 | 94 | 0.0053% |
| 1987 | #1,663 | 73 | 0.0042% |
| 1986 | #1,474 | 85 | 0.0050% |
| 1985 | #1,432 | 88 | 0.0051% |
| 1984 | #1,552 | 73 | 0.0043% |
| 1983 | #1,278 | 96 | 0.0057% |
| 1982 | #1,429 | 85 | 0.0050% |
| 1981 | #1,664 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 1980 | #1,494 | 80 | 0.0048% |
| 1979 | #1,497 | 79 | 0.0049% |
| 1978 | #1,522 | 73 | 0.0048% |
| 1977 | #1,663 | 63 | 0.0041% |
| 1976 | #1,778 | 53 | 0.0036% |
| 1975 | #1,910 | 47 | 0.0032% |
| 1974 | #2,136 | 38 | 0.0026% |
| 1973 | #2,462 | 30 | 0.0021% |
| 1972 | #3,408 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,666 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1970 | #3,038 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #3,473 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #2,714 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #2,972 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #3,570 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #3,275 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #3,889 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,349 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #3,301 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #4,565 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #4,465 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #4,322 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1958 | #3,559 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #3,326 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #6,023 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,800 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #3,997 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #3,498 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #4,152 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,505 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,986 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #4,275 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #5,303 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #4,381 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #4,026 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #3,410 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #3,403 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #2,714 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #3,273 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,904 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #4,313 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #3,202 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #3,847 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #3,454 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #3,481 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #2,704 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #2,508 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1931 | #3,251 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #3,384 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #2,016 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #2,199 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,906 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #2,583 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #3,697 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #5,153 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #5,046 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #3,697 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #3,436 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #4,443 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,029 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #4,668 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #4,492 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,470 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #3,683 | 5 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11 | 9,762 | 0.5715% |
| 2024 | #11 | 9,814 | 0.5721% |
| 2023 | #11 | 10,212 | 0.5977% |
| 2022 | #9 | 10,904 | 0.6251% |
| 2021 | #7 | 11,889 | 0.6801% |
| 2020 | #7 | 12,254 | 0.7104% |
| 2019 | #7 | 13,036 | 0.7269% |
| 2018 | #6 | 13,483 | 0.7427% |
| 2017 | #6 | 13,854 | 0.7487% |
| 2016 | #6 | 14,682 | 0.7739% |
| 2015 | #10 | 13,732 | 0.7166% |
| 2014 | #12 | 13,827 | 0.7200% |
| 2013 | #14 | 13,513 | 0.7145% |
| 2012 | #16 | 12,833 | 0.6766% |
| 2011 | #19 | 13,079 | 0.6887% |
| 2010 | #22 | 12,438 | 0.6483% |
| 2009 | #19 | 13,121 | 0.6616% |
| 2008 | #25 | 12,958 | 0.6352% |
| 2007 | #26 | 13,280 | 0.6399% |
| 2006 | #24 | 13,765 | 0.6698% |
| 2005 | #25 | 13,585 | 0.6802% |
| 2004 | #25 | 13,829 | 0.6967% |
| 2003 | #24 | 14,086 | 0.7131% |
| 2002 | #27 | 13,492 | 0.6949% |
| 2001 | #27 | 14,339 | 0.7380% |
| 2000 | #26 | 14,844 | 0.7558% |
| 1999 | #29 | 13,666 | 0.7117% |
| 1998 | #30 | 13,061 | 0.6834% |
| 1997 | #29 | 13,266 | 0.7037% |
| 1996 | #29 | 13,785 | 0.7277% |
| 1995 | #31 | 12,719 | 0.6681% |
| 1994 | #31 | 12,791 | 0.6621% |
| 1993 | #33 | 12,685 | 0.6468% |
| 1992 | #33 | 13,455 | 0.6736% |
| 1991 | #33 | 13,879 | 0.6870% |
| 1990 | #33 | 14,630 | 0.7123% |
| 1989 | #29 | 15,733 | 0.7863% |
| 1988 | #30 | 15,187 | 0.7934% |
| 1987 | #28 | 14,890 | 0.7975% |
| 1986 | #30 | 13,793 | 0.7490% |
| 1985 | #31 | 13,427 | 0.7265% |
| 1984 | #30 | 13,269 | 0.7352% |
| 1983 | #32 | 13,286 | 0.7411% |
| 1982 | #33 | 13,813 | 0.7612% |
| 1981 | #32 | 14,361 | 0.8017% |
| 1980 | #32 | 13,626 | 0.7637% |
| 1979 | #33 | 12,514 | 0.7268% |
| 1978 | #34 | 11,414 | 0.6951% |
| 1977 | #29 | 12,107 | 0.7367% |
| 1976 | #32 | 10,672 | 0.6801% |
| 1975 | #36 | 9,545 | 0.6113% |
| 1974 | #46 | 7,183 | 0.4568% |
| 1973 | #55 | 5,227 | 0.3354% |
| 1972 | #64 | 4,498 | 0.2774% |
| 1971 | #69 | 4,250 | 0.2403% |
| 1970 | #81 | 3,927 | 0.2113% |
| 1969 | #91 | 3,379 | 0.1889% |
| 1968 | #99 | 3,017 | 0.1736% |
| 1967 | #119 | 2,506 | 0.1437% |
| 1966 | #130 | 2,377 | 0.1333% |
| 1965 | #133 | 2,337 | 0.1256% |
| 1964 | #131 | 2,504 | 0.1257% |
| 1963 | #144 | 2,349 | 0.1157% |
| 1962 | #140 | 2,507 | 0.1212% |
| 1961 | #146 | 2,388 | 0.1124% |
| 1960 | #155 | 2,246 | 0.1054% |
| 1959 | #150 | 2,333 | 0.1093% |
| 1958 | #150 | 2,255 | 0.1063% |
| 1957 | #138 | 2,489 | 0.1154% |
| 1956 | #131 | 2,472 | 0.1169% |
| 1955 | #132 | 2,448 | 0.1188% |
| 1954 | #132 | 2,453 | 0.1203% |
| 1953 | #128 | 2,413 | 0.1223% |
| 1952 | #122 | 2,440 | 0.1255% |
| 1951 | #123 | 2,345 | 0.1245% |
| 1950 | #123 | 2,186 | 0.1221% |
| 1949 | #135 | 2,016 | 0.1136% |
| 1948 | #140 | 1,962 | 0.1118% |
| 1947 | #144 | 1,931 | 0.1055% |
| 1946 | #146 | 1,655 | 0.1019% |
| 1945 | #140 | 1,562 | 0.1161% |
| 1944 | #130 | 1,622 | 0.1190% |
| 1943 | #130 | 1,719 | 0.1204% |
| 1942 | #129 | 1,692 | 0.1225% |
| 1941 | #124 | 1,578 | 0.1285% |
| 1940 | #128 | 1,446 | 0.1247% |
| 1939 | #124 | 1,423 | 0.1286% |
| 1938 | #125 | 1,416 | 0.1277% |
| 1937 | #119 | 1,422 | 0.1333% |
| 1936 | #123 | 1,354 | 0.1305% |
| 1935 | #123 | 1,409 | 0.1353% |
| 1934 | #117 | 1,483 | 0.1436% |
| 1933 | #118 | 1,413 | 0.1425% |
| 1932 | #115 | 1,540 | 0.1475% |
| 1931 | #113 | 1,559 | 0.1500% |
| 1930 | #115 | 1,594 | 0.1453% |
| 1929 | #107 | 1,695 | 0.1576% |
| 1928 | #106 | 1,805 | 0.1630% |
| 1927 | #101 | 1,925 | 0.1708% |
| 1926 | #98 | 1,898 | 0.1709% |
| 1925 | #93 | 2,069 | 0.1854% |
| 1924 | #89 | 2,221 | 0.1961% |
| 1923 | #86 | 2,316 | 0.2113% |
| 1922 | #82 | 2,378 | 0.2185% |
| 1921 | #82 | 2,412 | 0.2190% |
| 1920 | #83 | 2,309 | 0.2169% |
| 1919 | #79 | 2,279 | 0.2325% |
| 1918 | #79 | 2,431 | 0.2399% |
| 1917 | #76 | 2,386 | 0.2578% |
| 1916 | #79 | 2,186 | 0.2456% |
| 1915 | #71 | 2,241 | 0.2641% |
| 1914 | #70 | 1,823 | 0.2784% |
| 1913 | #70 | 1,466 | 0.2860% |
| 1912 | #67 | 1,272 | 0.2959% |
| 1911 | #64 | 690 | 0.3054% |
| 1910 | #70 | 536 | 0.2760% |
| 1909 | #63 | 489 | 0.2982% |
| 1908 | #63 | 480 | 0.3110% |
| 1907 | #64 | 460 | 0.3133% |
| 1906 | #71 | 352 | 0.2644% |
| 1905 | #68 | 379 | 0.2865% |
| 1904 | #68 | 358 | 0.2794% |
| 1903 | #69 | 324 | 0.2717% |
| 1902 | #61 | 374 | 0.3049% |
| 1901 | #56 | 343 | 0.3222% |
| 1900 | #57 | 450 | 0.2991% |
| 1899 | #57 | 335 | 0.3154% |
| 1898 | #55 | 405 | 0.3301% |
| 1897 | #54 | 378 | 0.3352% |
| 1896 | #51 | 416 | 0.3479% |
| 1895 | #48 | 452 | 0.3850% |
| 1894 | #44 | 469 | 0.4051% |
| 1893 | #42 | 482 | 0.4291% |
| 1892 | #42 | 525 | 0.4302% |
| 1891 | #41 | 461 | 0.4556% |
| 1890 | #37 | 537 | 0.4837% |
| 1889 | #21 | 760 | 0.6873% |
| 1888 | #25 | 781 | 0.6462% |
| 1887 | #34 | 473 | 0.4664% |
| 1886 | #39 | 463 | 0.4179% |
| 1885 | #38 | 464 | 0.4304% |
| 1884 | #38 | 509 | 0.4448% |
| 1883 | #31 | 508 | 0.4855% |
| 1882 | #34 | 478 | 0.4205% |
| 1881 | #31 | 481 | 0.4775% |
| 1880 | #32 | 490 | 0.4435% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
