Benjamin Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Benjamin is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Benjamin?
Benjamin is spelled B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N. The name has 8 letters.
Benjamin at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Benjamin means “son of the right hand” or “son of the south” in Hebrew.
- Origin
- Benjamin is used in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the youngest son of Jacob.
- Pronunciation
- BEN-juh-min · 3 syllables
Benjamin Popularity in 2025
Rank#10,917
Recorded Births8
Rank#11
Recorded Births9,762
- Girls usage rose 2,560 places to #10,917 and recorded 2 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage held steady at #11 and recorded 103 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Benjamin Mean?
Benjamin means “son of the right hand” or “son of the south” in Hebrew.
Origin: Benjamin is used in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the youngest son of Jacob.
How Do You Pronounce Benjamin?
PronunciationBEN-juh-min
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Benjamin?
- History
- The name Benjamin has been historically used in Hebrew-speaking communities and appears in various religious texts.
Benjamin Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 8 | #10,917 |
| 2025 | Boys | 9,762 | #11 |
| 2024 | Girls | 6 | #13,477 |
| 2024 | Boys | 9,865 | #11 |
| 2023 | Girls | 8 | #11,169 |
| 2023 | Boys | 10,224 | #11 |
| 2022 | Girls | 10 | #9,680 |
| 2022 | Boys | 10,912 | #9 |
| 2021 | Girls | 12 | #8,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 11,895 | #7 |
| 2020 | Girls | 10 | #9,546 |
| 2020 | Boys | 12,264 | #7 |
| 2019 | Girls | 14 | #7,716 |
| 2019 | Boys | 13,044 | #7 |
| 2018 | Girls | 20 | #6,010 |
| 2018 | Boys | 13,488 | #6 |
| 2017 | Girls | 9 | #10,689 |
| 2017 | Boys | 13,858 | #6 |
| 2016 | Girls | 12 | #8,875 |
| 2016 | Boys | 14,686 | #6 |
| 2015 | Girls | 18 | #6,721 |
| 2015 | Boys | 13,732 | #10 |
| 2014 | Girls | 17 | #6,987 |
| 2014 | Boys | 13,830 | #12 |
When Was Benjamin Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1989 · Boys
15,733 recorded births
National rank #29
1988 · Boys
15,187 recorded births
National rank #30
1987 · Boys
14,892 recorded births
National rank #28
2000 · Boys
14,845 recorded births
National rank #26
Where Benjamin Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WA | #6 | 259 |
| RI | #6 | 45 |
| PA | #7 | 405 |
| MA | #7 | 312 |
| OR | #7 | 123 |
| DE | #7 | 34 |
| CA | #9 | 1,257 |
| FL | #9 | 660 |