Find out how popular the first name Ben has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ben by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ben is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Ben being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 311 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ben.

The history of the first name Ben

The name Ben has its origins in the Hebrew language, derived from the biblical name Benjamin. The name Benjamin is a combination of two Hebrew words, "ben" meaning "son" and "yamin" meaning "right hand." This name's origins can be traced back to ancient times, with its earliest recorded use appearing in the biblical Book of Genesis, referring to one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Benjamin was the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Rachel. In the Book of Genesis, it is mentioned that Rachel named her son Benjamin, which means "son of my right hand" or "son of the south." This name was given to signify the tribe of Benjamin's inheritance in the Promised Land, which was located in the southern region of ancient Israel.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ben was Ben Sira, also known as Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, who lived in Jerusalem around 200 BCE. He was a renowned Jewish philosopher and author of the Book of Sirach, which is part of the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books of the Bible.

Throughout history, the name Ben has been used by various notable figures. One of the most famous was Ben Jonson (1572-1637), an English playwright, poet, actor, and literary critic who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare. His works, such as "Volpone" and "The Alchemist," are considered literary masterpieces of the Jacobean era.

Another notable figure was Ben Franklin (1706-1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a polymath, renowned for his contributions to science, politics, and literature. Franklin played a crucial role in the American Revolution and served as the first United States Ambassador to France.

In the realm of music, Ben E. King (1938-2015) was an American soul singer and songwriter best known for his hit song "Stand by Me." He was a member of the renowned vocal group The Drifters and later launched a successful solo career.

Ben Hogan (1912-1997) was a legendary American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He won nine major championships and is credited with revolutionizing the technique and approach to golf.

Finally, Ben Kingsley (born 1943) is a British actor known for his versatility and acclaimed performances in films such as "Gandhi," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as "Schindler's List" and "Bugsy."

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ben was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ben, please contact us.

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