Benjamin
BEN-jah-min
Benjamin comes from Hebrew בִּנְיָמִן (Binyamīn): “ben” (son) and “yamin” (right hand, south), meaning “son of the right hand.” In the ancient Near East, the right hand symbolized strength, favor, and authority.
In Genesis, Benjamin is the youngest of Jacob’s 12 sons. His mother Rachel died in childbirth, naming him Ben-Oni (“son of my sorrow”) before Jacob renamed him Benjamin.
The tribe of Benjamin included King Saul and the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). The name passed through Greek Beniamin and Latin Beniaminus into European vernacular use, initially remaining within Jewish communities until the Protestant Reformation.
What the name Benjamin means
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is the name’s most embedded American bearer, associated with practical wisdom and civic virtue.
In literature, Benjamin appears in Orwell’s “Animal Farm” (1945) and in “The Graduate” (1963). The Fitzgerald character Benjamin Button reached new audiences via the 2008 film.
Benjamin entered the U.S. top 10 in 2014, peaking at No. 6 in 2016 with 14,682 births. In 2024, it ranks No. 11 with 9,814 births, remaining among the most popular biblical names in the country.
Nicknames Ben, Benny, and Benji provide flexibility across age and formality. International forms include Benjamín (Spanish) and Veniamin (Russian).
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Benjamin
Benjamin - similar names
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Ways to spell Benjamin
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Benji | English diminutive |
| Benny | English diminutive |
| Ben | English short form |
| Binyamin | Hebrew |
| Binyamen | Hebrew variant |
| Beniamino | Italian |
| Veniamin | Russian |
| Benjamín | Spanish |