Ben
Peaked at #43 nationally in 1889, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Ben has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Play with Ben
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Ben.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Ben — Girls (United States)
StablePeak rank
#1037
in 1889
Last ranked
#8315
in 1982
Years tracked
53
1889–1982
Trend
Stable
Ben was already at its most popular for girls in 1889 (the earliest year in this data, ranked #1037), with 7 babies given the name that year.
Ben hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 1982, when it stood at #8315.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | #8,315 | 7 |
| 1981 | #8,205 | 7 |
| 1980 | #10,546 | 5 |
| 1979 | #7,380 | 8 |
| 1978 | #9,903 | 5 |
| 1975 | #9,202 | 5 |
| 1973 | #8,536 | 5 |
| 1972 | #7,349 | 6 |
Ben — Boys (United States)
StablePeak rank
#43
in 1889
Current rank
#801
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1880, Ben reached its peak popularity for boys in 1889, ranking #43 nationally with 453 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #717 (2014) to #801 (2024) — a 10% drop.
As of 2024, Ben ranks #801 nationally for boys, with 313 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #801 | 313 |
| 2023 | #796 | 311 |
| 2022 | #766 | 329 |
| 2021 | #765 | 327 |
| 2020 | #768 | 313 |
| 2019 | #720 | 339 |
| 2018 | #692 | 350 |
| 2017 | #732 | 327 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Ben most popular?
Ben was most popular in 1889, when it ranked #43 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Ben becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently stable; for boys, it's currently stable, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Ben?
At least 85,516 babies have been recorded with the name Ben in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Ben? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.