Benjammin
A masculine name derived from "Benjamin" of Hebrew origins signifying "son of the right hand".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Benjammin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Benjammin today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Benjammin births was 2012 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Benjammin. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Benjammin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2012
5 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2012 SSA rank
#12,495
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Benjammin: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Benjammin by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Benjammin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Benjammin
The name Benjammin has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture, originating from the biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew words "ben" meaning "son" and "yamin" meaning "right hand." The name is closely associated with the figure of Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of the biblical patriarch Jacob and the progenitor of one of the tribes of Israel.
The name Benjammin finds its earliest recorded use in the Book of Genesis, where Benjamin is described as the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The biblical account portrays Benjamin as a beloved figure, and his birth is marked by a tragic event, as Rachel died during childbirth. The tribe of Benjamin later played a significant role in the history of ancient Israel, and the name became closely tied to the region of Benjamin, which was located within the larger territory of the Israelites.
One of the earliest notable figures in history bearing the name Benjammin was Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish traveler and explorer who lived in the 12th century. Born in Tudela, Spain, around 1130 CE, he embarked on an extensive journey that took him through Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. His travelogue, known as the "Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela," provides valuable insights into the Jewish communities and cultural landscapes of the medieval era.
In the realm of literature, Benjammin is the name of a character in William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." Benjammin is one of the sailors who accompany the shipwrecked party on the enchanted island, and his name serves as a nod to the biblical figure and the cultural significance of the name.
Moving forward in time, Benjammin Franklin (1706-1790) stands out as one of the most influential figures in American history to bear this name. A renowned statesman, author, scientist, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Franklin's contributions spanned various fields, including politics, diplomacy, and scientific discoveries.
Another notable Benjammin was Benjammin Disraeli (1804-1881), a British politician and writer who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice. Born into a Jewish family, Disraeli's name reflects his cultural heritage, and he played a significant role in shaping British politics during the Victorian era.
These are just a few examples of notable figures throughout history who bore the name Benjammin, reflecting its rich cultural and historical significance across various contexts and time periods.
People
Benjammin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Benjammin as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Benjammin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Benjammin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Benjammin going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Benjammin a common name?
We classify Benjammin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Benjammin most popular?
The single biggest year for Benjammin was 2012, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Benjammin is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Benjammin in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Benjammin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Benjammin in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Benjammin still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Benjammin in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Benjammin can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Benjammin?
You can see how many Americans are named Benjammin on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.