Benjamin
Benjamin: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbɛnd͡ʒəmɪn/
Meaning and origin of Benjamin
- A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin.
- A patrilineal surname transferred from the given name.
Etymology
From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right/south or son of days”). Authorities differ on the meaning of the original Hebrew. Philo of Alexandria, the Samaritan Pentateuch The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs and Midrash Leḳaḥ-Ṭob understand יָמִין to mean "days" (a meaning attested in Daniel 12:13) understanding the name to mean "son of days (i.e. old age)" (compare to the direct translations into Arabic بِنْ يَومِين (bin yawmīn) "son of the days" and Arabic بِنْ يَمِين (bin yamīn) "son of the right hand"), a formula paraphrased in Genesis 40:22 where Benjamin is described as a child of Jacob's o
How popular is Benjamin?
Since 1880, 2,482 girls and 826,830 boys in the U.S. have been named Benjamin (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1278 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #6 in 2016. In 2025 it ranked #11 for boys, with 9,770 babies given the name.
Names similar to Benjamin
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Hebrew boy names
Sibling name ideas for Benjamin
Sister and brother names that share Benjamin's Hebrew roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Benjamin FAQ
What does the name Benjamin mean?
A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. A patrilineal surname transferred from the given name. From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right/south or son of days”). Authorities differ on the meaning of the original Hebrew. Philo of Alexandria, the Samaritan Pentateuch The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs and Midrash Leḳaḥ-Ṭob understand יָמִין to mean "days" (a meaning attested in Daniel 12:13) understanding the name to mean "son of days (i.e. old age)" (compare to the direct translations into Arabic بِنْ يَومِين (bin yawmīn) "son of the days" and Arabic بِنْ يَمِين (bin yamīn) "son of the right hand"), a formula paraphrased in Genesis 40:22 where Benjamin is described as a child of Jacob's o
What is the origin of the name Benjamin?
Benjamin is listed as a name of Hebrew origin.
How popular is the name Benjamin?
Since 1880, 2,482 girls and 826,830 boys in the U.S. have been named Benjamin (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1278 in 1983. Its highest rank for boys was #6 in 2016. In 2025 it ranked #11 for boys, with 9,770 babies given the name.
Is Benjamin a boy or girl name?
Benjamin is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,482 girls and 826,830 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.