Benjamin is of Hebrew origins and comes from the Old Testament of the Bible. In Hebrew, the meaning of Benjamin is ‘son of the right hand’. Ben means ‘son’ and yāmīn translates to ‘right hand’ or ‘right side’.
Benjamin is a variation of the original Hebrew name, Binyamin. ‘Son of the right hand’ is both the Binyamin and Benjamin name meaning, although the name can also translate to ‘son of the South’.
In the Bible, Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and the name is regularly found in the book of Genesis. During the Medieval period, the name Benjamin was used as a nickname for the youngest son in the family.
Benjamin 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. Benjamin can also be shortened to Ben, Benny, or Benji if you want to give your baby a cute nickname.
- Benjamin Name Origin: Hebrew
- The Meaning of Benjamin: Son of the right hand.
- Pronunciation: Ben – Juh – Min
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Benjamin?
Benjamin has been a popular boy’s name 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.
Variations of the Name Benjamin
If you like Benjamin but don’t feel like it is ‘the one’, why not use one of these variations instead?
| 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 Amazing Biblical Boys Names
If you have your heart set on a name with biblical origins, here are some amazing names to consider:
| 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’
Perhaps you really want to give your baby a name that starts with ‘B’, why not try one of these?
| 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 is a name that has been around since biblical times, so it is no surprise that there have been several famous Benjamins. Here is a list of some of the most famous people called 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.