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Home › Baby Names Directory › Benjamin

Benjamin

♀ Girl

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

Meaning: From the Hebrew Binyamin, 'son of the right hand' (the right hand meaning strength and favor). In the Bible Benjamin is Jacob's youngest son and the founder of one of the twelve tribes. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; its rare use for girls is noted clearly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A biblical classic: Benjamin is Hebrew for 'son of the right hand' (said 'BEN-juh-min'). Overwhelmingly a boy's name — we note the lean clearly.
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Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew Binyamin, 'son of the right hand' (the right hand meaning strength and favor). In the Bible Benjamin is Jacob's youngest son and the founder of one of the twelve tribes. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; its rare use for girls is noted clearly.
U.S. rank (2024)#13689 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1983
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,474

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198319142024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Benjamin comes from the Hebrew Binyamin, 'son of the right hand' — the right hand a sign of strength and favor. In the Bible he is Jacob's youngest son and the founder of a tribe of Israel; the name has been carried by presidents, writers and inventors. It is overwhelmingly a boys' name, and its very rare use for girls is noted clearly (said 'BEN-juh-min').

For girls it appears only in the very smallest numbers in the U.S., against enormous boys' use. A boys' classic, noted honestly here.

Did you know? In the Bible, Benjamin is Jacob's youngest son, and the 'right hand' in his name stands for strength and favor. The name is overwhelmingly a boys' name, which we note clearly.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Benjamin — Hebrew Binyamin 'son of the right hand'; overwhelmingly a boys' name

Variations

BenjaminaBenjamineBenji

Nicknames

BenBenji

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Benjamin…

Benny— the friendly short form
Emerson— a like boys' name used for girls
James— another boys' classic sometimes given to girls
Maydelin— echoes that soft -in sound
Yaquelin— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Benjamin

By themehebrewbiblicalclassiccross-sex

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Benjamin mean?

Benjamin means 'son of the right hand' — from the Hebrew Binyamin, where the right hand stands for strength and favor.

How do you pronounce Benjamin?

It's said BEN-juh-min /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Benjamin a boy or girl name?

Benjamin is overwhelmingly a boy's name — we note the lean clearly. Its use for girls is very rare; Benjamina is the feminine form.

How popular is Benjamin?

Benjamin is a top-tier boys' name in the U.S. and extremely rare for girls.

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