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Benjamin

Hebrew
"son of the right hand"
Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Mon Sep 02 2024

Benjamin Origin and Meaning

The name Benjamin is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of the right hand".

Benjamin is a biblical name that has enjoyed widespread favor for decades, ranking in the US Top 50 for almost half a century and the Top 10 from 2015 until 2023.

One of those golden boys' names that feels traditional as well as sensitive and stylish, Benjamin has the further advantage of the friendly, accessible nickname Ben.

Benjamin is hugely popular not just in the US but in a range of other western countries, including France and Germany along with Scandinavia and Latin America. The names Benjamin and Ben will be familiar around the world.

Benjamin is derived from the Hebrew name Binyamin, from the elements ben, meaning "son" and yamin, "right hand." In the Old Testament's Book of Genesis, Benjamin was the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob and Rachel and he was one of the founders of the twelve tribes of Israel.

There have been numerous notable Benjamin namesakes, from Benjamin Franklin to Dr. Benjamin Spock. The name's popularity spiked after the release of The Graduate in 1967, with Dustin Hoffman playing the iconic Benjamin Braddock.

Benjamin is the name of the sons of Kelly Preston and John Travolta as well as of Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady.

# 11 in the US

Benjamin Rank in US Top 1000

# 74 on Nameberry

Benjamin Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Benjamin Popularity

Famous People Named Benjamin

  • Benjaminson of Bilhan, of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 7:10).
  • Benjaminof the sons of Harim (Ezra 10:32)
  • Benjamin FranklinFounding Father of the United States
  • Benjamin BannekerAmerican scientist and surveyor
  • Benjamin Harrison23rd U.S. president
  • Benjamin Disraeli1st Earl of Beaconsfield, British Prime Minister
  • Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu9th Prime Minister of Israel
  • (Edward) Benjamin BrittenEnglish composer
  • Benjamin Franklin "Bluff" WadeU.S. Senator from Ohio
  • Benjamin Edward "Ben" StillerAmerican actor
  • Benjamin Geza "Ben" Affleck(Boldt), American actor and director
  • Benjamin Thomas "Ben" BarnesEnglish actor
  • Benjamin Todd "Ben" RoethlisbergerAmerican NFL football player
  • Benjamin "Ben" McKenzie (Schenkkan)American actor
  • Benjamin "Ben" GibbardAmerican musician
  • Benjamin "Ben" Shapiroauthor and political commentator, cousin of actress Mara Willson
  • Benjamin John "Ben" HowardEnglish singer,songwriter
  • Benjamin Chase "Ben" HarperAmerican singer,songwriter
  • Benjamin Jeremy "Ben" SteinAmerican actor, TV personality and politician
  • Benjamin John "Ben" WhishawEnglish actor
  • Benjamin Lev "Ben" KwellerAmerican singer,songwriter
  • Benjamin "Ben" LovettEnglish musician
  • Benjamin BiolayFrench singer,songwriter
  • Benjamin Scott "Ben" FoldsAmerican singer,songwriter
  • Benjamin W. LeeKorean,American theoretical physicist
  • Benjamin MorrellAmerican sea captain and memoirist
  • Benjamin Woolfield MountfortNew Zealand architect
  • Benjamin Franklin Tilley1st Governor of American Samoa
  • Benjamin Ricketson TuckerAmerican anarchist
  • Benjamin Alexandro AgostoAmerican Olympic ice dancer
  • Benjamin Leinerbirth name of American boxer Benny Leonard
  • Benjamin BurnleyAmerican musician
  • Benjamin FilipovicBosnian film director
  • Benjamin StoneEnglish actor
  • Benjamin Hayes GrierYouTuber
  • Benjamin Michael "Ben" SeewaldAmerican reality TV personality; husband of Jessa (Duggar) Seewald
  • Benjamin August "Ben" EcksteinAmerican child actor (identical triplet brother of Alexander & Caleb)
  • Benjamin Arthur "Ben" McKeeAmerican musician of band Imagine Dragons
  • Benjamin Romneyson of American politician Mitt Romney
  • Benjamin Atkinsonson of actor Rowan Atkinson
  • Benjamin Storm Keoughson of singer Lisa Marie Presley
  • Benjamin Fordson of American actor Harrison Ford
  • Benjamin Edward Sanaov (b. 2005)son of American actress Alison Sweeney
  • Benjamin Rein Brady (b. 2009)son of model Gisele Bundchen and NFL player Tom Brady
  • Benjamin Travolta (b. 2010)son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston
  • Benjamin PeltonenFinnish singer
  • Benjamin Michael Sorge (b. 2016)son of reality television star Jasmine Arteaga Sorge
  • Benjamin Parma Ritter (b. 2017)son of American actor Tyler Ritter and Argentinian film director Lelia Parma
  • Benjamin "Ben" HalloranAustralian international footballer
  • Benjamin IngrossoSwedish pop,singer, son of Pernilla Wahlgren and Emilio Ingrosso
  • Benjamin Allen Cohen (b. 2019)son of American radio and TV talk show host Andy Cohen

Benjamin in Pop Culture

  • "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" F. Scott Fitzgerald story and film
  • Benjamin Braddockmain character in film "The Graduate"
  • Benjamin Suddlechopbarber in The Fortunes of Nigel (1822) by Sir Walter Scott
  • Benjamin Kirby Tennysonmain character on animated series "Ben 10"
  • Benjamin Hubert Horatio Humphrey Seavercharacter on TV's "Growing Pains"
  • Benjamin Pricecharacter on TV's "Ravenswood"
  • Benjamin “Ben” Mitchellcharacter on British soap opera “Eastenders”
  • Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Piercemain character on TV's M*A*S*H
  • Benjamin Woodman and Trilo Quistventriloquist duo in video game 'Ace Attorney'
  • Benjamin "Ben" Wyattcharacter on TV's Parks and Recreation
  • Benjamin Browncharacter in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series
  • Benjamin "Ben" Grimmalso known as The Thing, character in Marvel Universe
  • Benjamin "Benny" Aldencharacter in Gertrude Chandler Warner's "The Boxcar Children"
  • Benjamin "Ben" Tallmadgereal life Revolutionary War hero portrayed on AMC's "Turn"
  • Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Gatesmain character of the "National Treasure" movies
  • "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny" children's book by Beatrix Potter
  • Benjen Starkcharacter on "Game of Thrones"
  • Benjamin "Ben" Ripleymain character in book series "Spy School"
  • Benjamin Lafayette SiskoCaptain on TV show "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"
  • Benjamin "Benny" YoungTV character on "The Haves and the Have Nots".

Benjamin in Nameberry Blog Posts