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Ben Boy

Popularity: #623 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationBEN / bɛn

Hebrew; English

Meaning

Hebrew: Son of the right hand; English: Short form of Benjamin

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ben is derived from the Hebrew name "Binyamin," which means "son of the right hand." This name is composed of two elements: "ben," meaning "son," and "yamin," meaning "right hand" or "south." The name Binyamin appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, a significant figure in the biblical narrative. The name was later adopted into Greek as "Beniamin" and subsequently into Latin as "Beniaminus," before making its way into Old French and eventually into English as Ben, often as a diminutive form of Benjamin.

Historically, the name Ben has been borne by various notable figures, including Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, who lived in the 18th century and contributed significantly to American history and culture. The name also appears in various religious texts and traditions, reinforcing its significance in Jewish culture. The use of Ben as a standalone name became more common in English-speaking countries, particularly in the 19th century, although it has roots that trace back to ancient times.

Culturally, the name Ben carries connotations of strength and reliability, often associated with the idea of being favored or blessed, as suggested by its original meaning. The name has been used in various literary and artistic works, symbolizing loyalty and steadfastness. In addition to its biblical roots, the name has been embraced in various cultures, often reflecting familial ties or honoring heritage. The diminutive form Ben is frequently used in conjunction with other names, such as Benjamin, but stands alone as a strong and enduring name with deep historical roots.

Trend Summary

The name Ben has consistently remained popular in the United States, often ranking within the top 100 names for boys.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Benjamin
  • Benny

International Variants

  • Benoît (French)
  • Benno (German)
  • Beni (Italian)

Famous people named Ben

Ben Affleck is an actor and filmmaker best known for Good Will Hunting, Argo, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Ben Stiller is an actor, comedian, and filmmaker best known for There's Something About Mary, Night at the Museum, and Tropic Thunder.

Ben Kingsley is an actor best known for Gandhi, Schindler's List, and Hugo.

Ben Folds is a musician and songwriter best known for his work with Ben Folds Five and his solo albums.

Ben Harper is a musician best known for his albums Fight for Your Mind, Diamonds on the Inside, and Burn to Shine.

Ben Gibbard is a musician best known as the lead vocalist of Death Cab for Cutie and for his work with The Postal Service.

Ben Whishaw is an actor best known for his roles in Skyfall, The Danish Girl, and Paddington.

Ben Mendelsohn is an actor best known for his roles in Bloodline, Ready Player One, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Ben Browder is an actor best known for his roles in Farscape and Stargate SG-1.

Fictional characters named Ben

Ben Kenobi is a fictional character from the Star Wars franchise. He is a wise Jedi Master who plays a crucial role in training Luke Skywalker.

Ben Tennyson is a fictional character from the animated series Ben 10. He is a young boy who acquires a device that allows him to transform into various alien heroes to fight evil.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ben was first seen in the United States in 1880. Ben has ranked as high as #291 nationally, which occurred in 1918, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Georgia, and Tennessee. In the past 5 years the name Ben has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Ben (2024)

StateBirthsShare
NY 47
20%
CA 41
17%
FL 28
12%
TX 27
11%
MA 12
5%
IL 9
4%
MD 8
3%
UT 8
3%
NC 8
3%
WA 7
3%
AR 6
3%
OH 6
3%
KY 6
3%
PA 6
3%
AL 6
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880305
1881289
1882334
1883306
1884367
1885292
1886335
1887305
1888463
1889453
1890363
1891302
1892361
1893321
1894326
1895324
1896299
1897291
1898310
1899259
1900355
1901259
1902273
1903259
1904282
1905290
1906285
1907314
1908353
1909358
1910454
1911467
1912731
1913809
19141,005
19151,263
19161,191
19171,128
19181,276
19191,215
19201,138
19211,124
19221,120
19231,049
19241,170
19251,041
19261,013
19271,011
1928987
1929957
1930987
1931912
1932965
1933868
1934831
1935891
1936815
1937814
1938846
1939709
1940814
1941767
1942852
1943835
1944752
1945717
1946819
1947887
1948874
1949761
1950721
1951686
1952719
1953746
1954753
1955735
1956739
1957856
1958878
1959932
1960955
1961934
19621,044
1963945
1964870
1965727
1966683
1967553
1968630
1969578
1970620
1971578
1972591
1973535
1974541
1975603
1976590
1977626
1978572
1979549
1980518
1981522
1982436
1983431
1984444
1985428
1986431
1987426
1988430
1989437
1990367
1991352
1992358
1993333
1994292
1995322
1996315
1997372
1998353
1999390
2000376
2001394
2002408
2003440
2004453
2005446
2006455
2007409
2008405
2009388
2010337
2011344
2012311
2013310
2014336
2015330
2016354
2017327
2018350
2019339
2020313
2021327
2022329
2023311
2024313