Benjamen
Benjamen was the 9831st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 667th; the most babies were born in 1990 (99). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,458 places. More babies were named Benjamen in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Benjamin) Meaning disputed · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #9,831 boys, down 1,670 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 7boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 199099 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,687babies recorded
What does the name Benjamen mean?
Benjamen is a spelling of Benjamin, pronounced the same way, so it shares Benjamin's meaning and origin.
Benjamin is the name of Jacob and Rachel's youngest son. The Hebrew binyamin is usually read as 'son of the right hand', which can also mean 'son of the south'. Some ancient Jewish interpreters read it as 'son of days', meaning a child of old age. In Genesis 35:18 his dying mother names him Ben-oni, and his father renames him Benjamin.
בִּנְיָמִין (Biblical Hebrew, “binyamin: 'son of the right hand / south' or 'son of days'”)
How sure is this? Disputed. Wiktionary records the competing ancient readings ('right/south' or 'days').
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Benjamin'
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 35.18, JPS Tanakh: Gender-Sensitive Edition, with translator's note (via Sefaria)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (names.zip, yob*.txt), team3 computation
- Wikidata item Q2424149
- Wiktionary, entry 'Benjamin'
Benjamen popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,831 | 7 |
| 2020 | #8,161 | 9 |
| 2010 | #2,964 | 39 |
| 2000 | #1,726 | 65 |
| 1990 | #1,065 | 99 |
| 1980 | #1,104 | 67 |
| 1970 | #1,800 | 24 |
| 1960 | #1,915 | 18 |
| 1950 | #2,120 | 13 |
| 1940 | #1,807 | 15 |
| 1930 | #2,311 | 12 |
| 1920 | #2,347 | 13 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Benjamen, counting every spelling?
Benjamen is a spelling of Benjamin, a name family that ranked #13 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #9,831 for Benjamen on its own. Together these spellings went to 9,776 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin | 9,762 | #11 | 52,658 |
| Benjamyn | 7 | #9,832 | 47 |
| Benjamen | 7 | #9,831 | 43 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Benjamen?
7 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Benjamen (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Benjamen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,224 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Benjamen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Benjamen?
About 3,100 people born in the US named Benjamen are alive today, with a median age of 36; half are between 25 and 47. That makes Benjamen mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Benjamen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Benjamen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Benjamen
What does Benjamen mean?
The meaning of Benjamin is disputed: Wiktionary records the competing ancient readings ('right/south' or 'days').
How popular is the name Benjamen?
Benjamen was the 9831st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 667th; the most babies were born in 1990 (99). Over the last ten years it has moved down 3,458 places. More babies were named Benjamen in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Benjamen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Benjamen in the US.