Skip to content
MyGall.net
  • Girl Names

    Most popular 2026

    • No. 1 Olivia From Latin “oliva” (olive),…
    • No. 2 Emma From Old High German “ermen”…
    • No. 3 Amelia From Old Germanic “amal”…
    • No. 4 Charlotte From Old High German “karl”…
    • No. 5 Mia From Hebrew “Miryam” via…
    • No. 6 Sophia From ancient Greek “sophia”…

    By origin

    • English 672
    • Hebrew 252
    • Latin 232
    • Greek 191
    • Spanish 167
    • Germanic 157
    • French 145
    • Italian 89

    By letter

    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    Quick picks

    • Trending now
    • Classic English
    • Browse all
    See all girl names
  • Boy Names

    Most popular 2026

    • No. 1 Liam From Old High German Willahelm…
    • No. 2 Noah From Hebrew “noach” meaning…
    • No. 3 Oliver From Old French Olivier,…
    • No. 4 Theodore From ancient Greek Theodōros:…
    • No. 5 James From Hebrew “Yaaqov” meaning…
    • No. 6 Henry From Old High German “Haimric”…

    By origin

    • English 672
    • Hebrew 252
    • Latin 232
    • Greek 191
    • Spanish 167
    • Germanic 157
    • French 145
    • Italian 89

    By letter

    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    Quick picks

    • Trending now
    • Classic English
    • Browse all
    See all boy names
  • Popular
  • Origins

    Browse cultures

    • English 672
    • Hebrew 252
    • Latin 232
    • Greek 191
    • Spanish 167
    • Germanic 157
    • French 145
    • Italian 89
    • Arabic 78
    • Irish 77
    • Scandinavian 66
    • Scottish 54
  • Compare
  • Blog
English Deutsch Español Português Français Italiano Nederlands Polski Български Русский
MyGall.net
  • Girl Names
  • Boy Names
  • Origins
  • Popular
  • Compare
  • Blog
MyGall Boy Names Hebrew Benjamin
Boy

Benjamin

Benjamin Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

BEN-jah-min

Meaning of Benjamin: Benjamin derives from Hebrew Binyamin, a compound of ben (son) and yamin (right hand), meaning son of the right hand. The right hand signified strength and favor in ancient Near Eastern culture, so the name carried an implicit sense of privilege and blessing.

US Rank 2024
No. 11
Births
9,814
Peak Year
2016
Share
Pinterest Facebook WhatsApp Copy link

In Genesis, Benjamin was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, born during Rachel’s fatal labor. Jacob’s protective attachment to Benjamin drives the Joseph narrative, giving the name lasting associations with the cherished youngest child in scriptural tradition.

The name entered Western Europe through the Latin Vulgate Bible and spread widely during the Protestant Reformation, when Old Testament names gained renewed prestige. Puritan settlers brought Benjamin to colonial America in the 17th century, where it took firm root.

What Does Benjamin Mean? Origin & Etymology

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) became its most influential American bearer, cementing associations with ingenuity and civic virtue. The SSA records show Benjamin on US charts continuously since 1880, demonstrating rare longevity across 14 decades of naming records.

In the 21st century, Benjamin peaked at rank 6 in 2016 with 13,523 births and held rank 11 in 2024 with 9,814 births. The etymology records details the Hebrew root and its medieval European transmission through scripture and commerce.

Name day: March 31

How Popular Is Benjamin?

Numerology & Symbolism of Benjamin

Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.

B(2) + E(5) + N(5) + J(1) + A(1) + M(4) + I(9) + N(5) = 32 = 5
Destiny number
5
Freedom
Sum of all letters, reduced to a single digit
Soul urge
6
Love
Sum of vowels only - reveals inner desires
Expression
8
Authority
Sum of consonants - how others perceive you
Letters 8
Vowels / consonants 3 / 5
Birthstone Aquamarine
Lucky color Turquoise
1 Leadership Independent, driven, original — the initiator who forges new paths.
2 Harmony Diplomatic and cooperative, thriving through partnership and balance.
3 Expression Creative and communicative, bringing joy through art and words.
4 Stability Disciplined and dependable, building lasting structures through hard work.
5 Freedom Adventurous and adaptable, drawn to change, travel, and new experiences.
6 Nurturing Caring and responsible, focused on home, family, and community.
7 Wisdom Analytical and introspective, seeking truth through study and reflection.
8 Ambition Authoritative and goal-oriented, excelling in business and material achievement.
9 Compassion Humanitarian and idealistic, driven by a desire to serve and uplift others.
11 Intuition Master number: heightened sensitivity and spiritual insight beyond the ordinary.
22 Master Builder Master number: visionary practicality that turns ambitious dreams into reality.
33 Master Teacher Master number: selfless guidance and healing offered for the good of all.

Benjamin – Similar Names & Alternatives

Noah
From Hebrew “noach” meaning rest or comfort; name of the…
James
From Hebrew “Yaaqov” meaning supplanter, via Greek Iakobos…
Mateo
From Hebrew “Mattityahu” meaning gift of God, from “matan”…
Elijah
From Hebrew ʼeliyyahu: “ʼel” (God) + “Yahu” (Yahweh),…
Levi
From Hebrew “levi” meaning joined or attached; name of the…
Ezra
From Hebrew “Ezra” meaning help or helper; name of the…
Jack
From Hebrew “Yochanan” meaning God is gracious, via Old…
Daniel
From Hebrew “Daniel”: “dan” (judge) + “el” (God), meaning…
Samuel
From Hebrew “Shemuel”: “shama” (heard) + “el” (God),…
Michael
From Hebrew “Mikhaʼel”: “mi” (who) + “kha” (like) + “el”…
Ethan
From Hebrew “Eitan” meaning strong, firm, or enduring; name…
Asher
From Hebrew “Asher” meaning happy, blessed, or fortunate;…

Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity

Frequently Asked Questions about Benjamin

What does Benjamin mean?

Benjamin means son of the right hand, from Hebrew ben (son) and yamin (right hand). In Genesis, Benjamin was the cherished youngest son of Jacob, giving the name connotations of favor and blessing.

What is the origin of Benjamin?

Benjamin originates from biblical Hebrew Binyamin. Puritan settlers adopted it in 17th-century England and America. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) gave it enduring American prestige.

How popular is Benjamin in the US?

Benjamin ranks 11 for boys in the US as of 2024, per SSA data. It has ranked in the top 15 since 2010. Benjamin peaked at rank 6 in 2020.

What are variants of Benjamin?

Variants include Ben, Benny, Benji (English nicknames), Beniamin (Romanian), Benjamín (Spanish), and Binyamin (Hebrew). Ben independently ranks in the boys’ top 100.

Is Benjamin more popular for girls or boys?

Benjamin is given predominantly to boys. It ranks 11 for boys in the US in 2024 and does not appear in the top 1000 girls’ names.

Share
Pinterest Facebook WhatsApp Copy link

Explore More Names Like Benjamin

Boy Names Hebrew Names Starting with B Popular Names
Linda Hartmann

About the Author

Linda Hartmann

Editor-in-Chief, MyGall

Over 12 years of editorial experience in American parenting media. Currently a PhD candidate researching naming trends in US cultural history. Mother of two, based in Austin, Texas. Leads MyGall’s editorial standards and SSA data verification.

  • PhD candidate in American cultural studies
  • Based in Austin, Texas
  • Mother of two
Boy Hebrew 3 syllables

Benjamin – Name Variants & Spellings

Variant Language
Benji English diminutive
Benny English diminutive
Ben English short form
Binyamin Hebrew
Binyamen Hebrew variant
Beniamino Italian
Veniamin Russian
Benjamín Spanish

Benjamin – Popularity by US State

AK No. 13 AL No. 23 AR No. 16 AZ No. 12 CA No. 11 CO No. 13 CT No. 12 DC No. 6 DE No. 38 FL No. 13 GA No. 22 HI No. 31 IA No. 20 ID No. 21 IL No. 7 IN No. 10 KS No. 13 KY No. 32 LA No. 19 MA No. 7 MD No. 11 ME No. 31 MI No. 9 MN No. 14 MO No. 21 MS No. 43 MT No. 26 NC No. 16 ND No. 25 NE No. 21 NH No. 8 NJ No. 12 NM No. 62 NV No. 9 NY No. 13 OH No. 16 OK No. 17 OR No. 9 PA No. 8 RI No. 15 SC No. 36 SD No. 63 TN No. 22 TX No. 17 UT No. 17 VA No. 12 VT No. 13 WA No. 6 WI No. 24 WV No. 28 WY No. 17

Quick Stats

US Rank
No. 11
Births (SSA)
9,814
Peak Year
2016

More Hebrew Boy Names

  • Noah #2
  • James #5
  • Mateo #7
  • Elijah #8
  • Levi #12
  • Ezra #13
  • Jack #15
  • Daniel #16
  • Samuel #17
  • Michael #18

Names Starting With B

  • Bennett #60
  • Brooks #67
  • Beau #69
  • Bryson #147
  • Beckett #166

Rare Gems Like Benjamin

  • Shawn
  • Izan
  • Zamir
  • Yael
  • Jasiel
MyGall.net

A research-driven baby name reference. Real meanings, real history, and the popularity charts you actually need.

Top Girl Names

  • No. 1 Olivia
  • No. 2 Emma
  • No. 3 Amelia
  • No. 4 Charlotte
  • No. 5 Mia
  • No. 6 Sophia
  • No. 7 Isabella
  • No. 8 Evelyn
All girl names

Top Boy Names

  • No. 1 Liam
  • No. 2 Noah
  • No. 3 Oliver
  • No. 4 Theodore
  • No. 5 James
  • No. 6 Henry
  • No. 7 Mateo
  • No. 8 Elijah
All boy names

By Origin

  • English 672
  • Hebrew 252
  • Latin 232
  • Greek 191
  • Spanish 167
  • Germanic 157
  • French 145
  • Italian 89
All origins

Browse

  • Most Popular 2026
  • By letter A-Z
  • By Origin
  • By Meaning
  • By Style
  • Compare names
  • Curated lists
  • Editorial blog

Site

  • About MyGall
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 MyGall.net. All rights reserved.

Some pages may contain affiliate links. Editorial content is independent.