Benjamin
BEN-juh-min /ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪn/
Meaning of Benjamin
Benjamin comes from the Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin): ben ('son') + yamin ('right hand'). In the Hebrew Bible, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel; the name is glossed in Genesis 35:18 as 'son of my right hand,' an idiom for favour. The right hand is the side of strength and blessing in ancient Hebrew thought.
Current popularity of Benjamin
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #15 |
| France (INSEE) | 2024 | #65 |
Notable bearers of Benjamin
Benjamin (Hebrew Bible); Benjamin Franklin; Benjamin Britten (composer).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Benjamin — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31