Ben
Ben: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /bษn/ ยท /bษชn/
Meaning and origin of Ben
- A shortening of the male given name Benjamin or, less often, of Benedict.
How popular is Ben?
Since 1880, 467 girls and 85,349 boys in the U.S. have been named Ben (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1037 in 1889. Its highest rank for boys was #43 in 1889. In 2025 it ranked #843 for boys, with 292 babies given the name.
Names similar to Ben
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Ben
Names that peaked around the same time as Ben and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ben FAQ
What does the name Ben mean?
A shortening of the male given name Benjamin or, less often, of Benedict.
How popular is the name Ben?
Since 1880, 467 girls and 85,349 boys in the U.S. have been named Ben (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1037 in 1889. Its highest rank for boys was #43 in 1889. In 2025 it ranked #843 for boys, with 292 babies given the name.
Is Ben a boy or girl name?
Ben is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 467 girls and 85,349 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880โ2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.