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Benjamin

♂ Boy

Pronounced BEN-juh-min /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪn/High

Meaning: Son of the right hand; son of the south; son of my right handHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Hebrew for 'son of the right hand,' Benjamin is a warm, distinguished biblical classic. With beloved nicknames like Ben and Benny, it remains a perennial top-ten favorite.
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Origin HighHebrew
MeaningSon of the right hand; son of the south; son of my right hand
Peak year1989
Total births (all-time)≈ 734,953

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198918802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Benjamin comes from the Hebrew Binyamin, composed of ben (son) and yamin (right hand, south, or good fortune). In the Hebrew Bible, Benjamin was the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The name was favored by Puritans and remained popular across American history. Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) gave it particular distinction in the United States. It has never left the U.S. top 50 and has ranked in the top ten boys' names consistently since the 2010s.

Did you know? In Genesis, Benjamin was the youngest and beloved son of Jacob and Rachel. As Rachel died giving birth to him, she initially called him Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow), but his father renamed him Benjamin (son of the right hand) as a hopeful blessing.

Variations

BeniaminoBenjamínBinyaminBenjamen

Nicknames

BenBennyBenjiBenje

Famous Bearers

  • ★Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
    American Founding Father, inventor, scientist, and diplomat.
  • ★Benjamin Netanyahu (1949–)
    Israeli politician, multiple-term Prime Minister of Israel.
  • ★Ben Affleck (1972–)
    American actor and filmmaker, Academy Award winner.

If you like Benjamin…

Theodore— shares the warm classic feel with great nickname potential
Samuel— fellow biblical classic with the same dignified ease
Elijah— another Old Testament name with modern top-ten appeal
Oliver— equally warm vintage revival classic
Henry— shares the distinguished but approachable quality

Frequently Asked

What does the name Benjamin mean?

Benjamin comes from the Hebrew Binyamin, meaning 'son of the right hand' or 'son of the south' — associated with favor and blessing.

How do you pronounce Benjamin?

Benjamin is said BEN-juh-min /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪn/ — three syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Benjamin a boy or girl name?

Benjamin is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Benjamin?

Benjamin has ranked in the U.S. top ten boys' names since about 2015, reflecting its warm appeal and versatile nickname options.