Benjamin
Peaked at #6 nationally in 2016, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Benjamin has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Meaning & origin
Benjamin is Hebrew for "son of the right hand," the name of Jacob's youngest son and the tribe he founded in the Old Testament.
Notable people & culture
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin is the name's most enduring American namesake. Unlike most names in this range, Benjamin never faded — it peaked as recently as 2016 and remained a U.S. top-15 name for boys as of 2024, part of a sustained modern revival of biblical and Founding-Father names.
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Benjamin — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#1278
in 1983
Current rank
#13689
in 2024
Years tracked
108
1914–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1914, Benjamin reached its peak popularity for girls in 1983, ranking #1278 nationally with 96 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #7036 (2014) to #13689 (2024) — a 49% drop.
As of 2024, Benjamin ranks #13689 nationally for girls, with 6 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #13,689 | 6 |
| 2023 | #11,333 | 8 |
| 2022 | #9,790 | 10 |
| 2021 | #8,547 | 12 |
| 2020 | #9,660 | 10 |
| 2019 | #7,798 | 14 |
| 2018 | #6,049 | 20 |
| 2017 | #10,825 | 9 |
Benjamin — Boys (United States)
StablePeak rank
#6
in 2016
Current rank
#11
in 2024
Years tracked
145
1880–2024
Trend
Stable
Tracked since 1880, Benjamin reached its peak popularity for boys in 2016, ranking #6 nationally with 14,682 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has climbed from #12 (2014) to #11 (2024) — a 8% improvement.
As of 2024, Benjamin ranks #11 nationally for boys, with 9,814 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #11 | 9,814 |
| 2023 | #11 | 10,212 |
| 2022 | #9 | 10,904 |
| 2021 | #7 | 11,889 |
| 2020 | #7 | 12,254 |
| 2019 | #7 | 13,036 |
| 2018 | #6 | 13,483 |
| 2017 | #6 | 13,854 |
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 Benjamin most popular?
Benjamin was most popular in 2016, when it ranked #6 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Benjamin becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently stable, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Benjamin?
At least 819,436 babies have been recorded with the name Benjamin in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Benjamin? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.