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Benjamin

/BEN-jə-min/

Benjamin is a boy name of Hebrew origin, meaning Son of the right hand.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginHebrew
  • StyleClassic
  • Syllables3
  • US rank#7

What does Benjamin mean?

Son of the right hand

From the Hebrew Binyamin, "son of the right hand" - the right hand signifying favour and strength. Genesis records that his dying mother Rachel named him Ben-Oni, "son of my sorrow", and his father renamed him.

The story behind the name

Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons and the founder of the smallest of the twelve tribes, which nonetheless produced Israel's first king, Saul, and later the apostle Paul.

The name became a Puritan favourite and travelled to America, where Benjamin Franklin - printer, diplomat, scientist and the only person to sign all four founding documents of the United States - made it thoroughly American.

Benjamin has been in the American top hundred continuously since 1970 and in the top ten since 2015.

Notable people named Benjamin

  • Benjamin, son of Jacob
  • Benjamin Franklin, statesman and scientist
  • Benjamin Britten, composer
  • Benjamin Disraeli, prime minister

How popular is Benjamin?

Popularity in the United States

Benjamin has been given to 776,278 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1980s. It has held a steady level of use since.

About 1 in 136 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

07,89315,786188019502020
Babies named Benjamin per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Benjamin has been given to 151,836 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 1990s. Its use has declined since that peak.

03,1416,281190019612022
Babies named Benjamin per year in France, 1900–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 15,235 people called Benjamin living in Spain, with an average age of 49.5.

776,278 Babies named since 1880
1980s Peak decade
Steady Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Benjamín, Beniamino, Binyamin

Related names: Ben, Benny, Samuel, Levi, Jacob

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Frequently asked questions about Benjamin

What does the name Benjamin mean?

Benjamin means Son of the right hand. It is of Hebrew origin.

Is Benjamin a boy's or a girl's name?

Benjamin is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Benjamin?

Benjamin is pronounced BEN-jə-min.

How popular is the name Benjamin?

Benjamin has been given to 776,278 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1980s. It has held a steady level of use since.

What are other spellings of Benjamin?

Common variants include Benjamín, Beniamino, Binyamin.