Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin that means ‘son of the right hand’ or ‘son of the south’. The name comes from the Old Testament of the Bible and is derived from the Hebrew name Binyamin which is a combination of Ben means ‘son’ and yāmīn translates to ‘right hand’ or ‘right side’.
In the Bible, Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob, and the biblical boy’s name is found regularly in the book of Genesis. During the Medieval period, the name was used as a nickname for the youngest son in the family.
It is a classic boy’s name that never goes out of style. In fact, the name is more popular today than it has ever been, often being shortened to Ben, Benny, or Benji if you want to give your baby a cute nickname.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Son of the right hand
- Pronunciation: Ben – Juh – Min
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Benjamin?
Benjamin has been a popular boy’s for several decades. In 1968, the name entered the top 100 most popular boys’ names in the US and has stayed there ever since.
By 2009, Benjamin had ranked within the top 20. The name peaked in popularity in 2016, ranking at number 6. Latest statistics from Social Security data show that in 2021, 11791 baby boys born that year were named Benjamin.
Name Variations
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Binyamin | Son of the right hand | Arabic |
| Beniamino | Son of the South | Italian |
| Peni | Son of my right hand | Hawaiian |
| Benjee | Son of my old age | Hebrew |
| Benji | Son of the South | Hebrew |
| Venyamin | Son of the right hand | Russian |
| Ben | Son | Hebrew |
Other Biblical Boys’ Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Aaron | High mountain |
| Abraham | Father of multitudes |
| Caleb | Faith and devotion |
| Daniel | God is my judge |
| David | Beloved |
| Ethan | Strong and firm |
| Ezra | Help |
Alternative Boy Names Starting with ‘B’
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Beamon | Beekeeper | English |
| Beau | Handsome | French |
| Barack | Blessed | African |
| Beck | From the brook | English |
| Bennett | Little blessed one | Latin |
| Bryce | Speckled | English |
| Brody | Name of Scottish caste | Scottish |
Famous People Named Benjamin
- Benjamin Franklin – American statesman, politician, and writer.
- Benjamin Bratt – American actor and producer.
- Ben Affleck – American Actor.
- Benjamin Orr – American musician and singer.
- Benjamin Harrison – 23rd American president.
- Benny Goodman – Jazz musician.