Benson Boy

Popularity: #266 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BEN-sun /ˈbɛn.sən/

Origin: English; Scandinavian

Meaning: Son of Ben; son of the blessed one

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Benson has its roots in Old English, derived from the personal name "Ben" combined with the suffix "-son," meaning "son of Ben." The name Ben itself is a diminutive form of Benjamin, which originates from the Hebrew name "Binyamin," meaning "son of the right hand." This Hebrew name made its way into Greek as "Beniamin" and later into Latin as "Beniaminus," before evolving into various forms in Old French and Middle English, ultimately leading to the modern English surname Benson. The transition into English occurred around the 12th century, as surnames began to be adopted more widely in England, often reflecting lineage or familial connections.

Historically, the name Benson has been associated with notable figures, including various English landowners and nobles during the medieval period. It appears in records from the 13th century, with individuals bearing the surname involved in local governance and land management.

The name is also linked to the biblical figure Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which adds a layer of historical significance and cultural resonance, particularly within Judeo-Christian contexts. The King James Bible, published in the early 17th century, further popularized the name Benjamin, thereby indirectly enhancing the visibility of its derivative forms, including Benson.

Culturally, the name Benson has been embraced in various literary and artistic works, often symbolizing strength and familial ties. The use of the suffix "-son" in English surnames typically denotes lineage, which has contributed to the name's enduring presence in English-speaking cultures.

Additionally, the diminutive form "Ben" has become widely recognized and used independently, reflecting the name's adaptability and continued relevance through the centuries.

Famous people named Benson

In this section, you will find notable people named Benson. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Benson who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Benson who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Benson Henderson is a mixed martial artist best known for competing in the UFC and WEC, and being a former WEC Lightweight Champion.

Benson Lee is a filmmaker best known for his work on the documentaries Planet B-Boy and the series The Last Dance.

Fictional characters named Benson

The following list of fictional characters named Benson is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Benson is a fictional character from the TV series Benson. He is the wise and capable butler who manages the household of Governor Gatling while navigating various political and personal challenges.

Benson Dubois is a fictional character from the animated series The Owl House. They are a skilled and resourceful witch who plays a significant role in helping the main characters navigate their adventures.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Benson, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BrandonBenjaminBrockBlaineBeckettBryce

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Benson. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

BransonBennettBentleyBlaineBrockBeckhamBlaiseBodhi

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Benson was first seen in the United States in 1887.

Benson has ranked as high as #534 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, Utah, New York, Texas, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Benson has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Benson is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Benson was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Benson.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,227 1,214 13
2024 737 729 8
2023 454 454 0
2022 428 428 0
2021 485 479 6
2020 514 514 0
2019 566 566 0
2018 621 621 0
2017 625 625 0
2016 729 729 0
2015 636 631 5
2014 528 528 0
2013 447 447 0
2012 433 433 0
2011 314 314 0
2010 260 260 0
2009 193 193 0
2008 171 171 0
2007 174 174 0
2006 160 160 0
2005 134 134 0
2004 130 130 0
2003 102 102 0
2002 102 102 0
2001 76 76 0
2000 76 76 0
1999 66 66 0
1998 60 60 0
1997 50 50 0
1996 65 65 0
1995 60 60 0
1994 72 72 0
1993 72 72 0
1992 63 63 0
1991 58 58 0
1990 77 77 0
1989 57 57 0
1988 58 58 0
1987 38 38 0
1986 61 61 0
1985 59 59 0
1984 52 52 0
1983 47 47 0
1982 53 53 0
1981 53 53 0
1980 62 62 0
1979 79 79 0
1978 59 59 0
1977 65 65 0
1976 36 36 0
1975 40 40 0
1974 42 42 0
1973 51 51 0
1972 46 46 0
1971 42 42 0
1970 49 49 0
1969 64 64 0
1968 46 46 0
1967 50 50 0
1966 39 39 0
1965 30 30 0
1964 43 43 0
1963 47 47 0
1962 43 43 0
1961 45 45 0
1960 25 25 0
1959 39 39 0
1958 46 46 0
1957 60 60 0
1956 48 48 0
1955 39 39 0
1954 51 51 0
1953 46 46 0
1952 50 50 0
1951 42 42 0
1950 39 39 0
1949 46 46 0
1948 52 52 0
1947 44 44 0
1946 36 36 0
1945 34 34 0
1944 37 37 0
1943 38 38 0
1942 44 44 0
1941 34 34 0
1940 23 23 0
1939 23 23 0
1938 30 30 0
1937 37 37 0
1936 29 29 0
1935 29 29 0
1934 29 29 0
1933 17 17 0
1932 27 27 0
1931 39 39 0
1930 30 30 0
1929 42 42 0
1928 35 35 0
1927 35 35 0
1926 35 35 0
1925 45 45 0
1924 43 43 0
1923 36 36 0
1922 43 43 0
1921 39 39 0
1920 43 43 0
1919 28 28 0
1918 31 31 0
1917 47 47 0
1916 68 68 0
1915 39 39 0
1914 24 24 0
1913 15 15 0
1912 21 21 0
1911 7 7 0
1910 5 5 0
1909 7 7 0
1908 9 9 0
1905 5 5 0
1904 7 7 0
1903 6 6 0
1898 5 5 0
1897 5 5 0
1895 6 6 0
1892 6 6 0
1889 9 9 0
1888 5 5 0
1887 9 9 0

Top States for Benson (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
UT 44
6%
CA 42
6%
OH 41
6%
TX 35
5%
WA 29
4%
PA 29
4%
WI 28
4%
IN 27
4%
MI 26
4%
MO 26
4%
FL 25
4%
MN 24
3%
IA 22
3%
NY 21
3%
NC 20
3%
TN 19
3%
IL 18
3%
VA 18
3%
KY 17
2%
GA 16
2%
AL 15
2%
OR 15
2%
NE 14
2%
SD 14
2%
AZ 14
2%
KS 11
2%
NJ 10
1%
OK 10
1%
LA 9
1%
ID 9
1%
MT 8
1%
SC 7
1%
WV 7
1%
CO 7
1%
NV 7
1%
MA 6
1%
MD 6
1%
AR 6
1%
ND 5
1%