Benjermin
Of Old French origin, meaning "son of the right hand side".
Name Census estimates that about 177 living Americans carry the first name Benjermin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Benjermin today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Benjermin births was 2007 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Benjermin. 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.
People living today
177
~ 1 in 1,936,465 Americans
Peak year
2007
18 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2018 SSA rank
#10,944
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Benjermin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Benjermin from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 90 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Benjermin remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Benjermin 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 Benjermin during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Benjermin
The name Benjermin is a unique and relatively rare name with a rich history and cultural significance. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Aramaic language, which was widely spoken in the Middle East during the first millennium BC.
One of the earliest known references to the name Benjermin can be found in the ancient Babylonian texts, where it is believed to have been derived from the Aramaic words "ben" meaning "son" and "jermin" meaning "protector" or "guardian." This suggests that the name may have been given to children as a symbolic representation of their parents' hopes for their protection and well-being.
In the ancient world, the name Benjermin was predominantly used by the Aramaic-speaking communities in the regions of modern-day Syria, Iraq, and parts of Iran. It is possible that the name may have been influenced by the cultural and religious traditions of these regions, although specific details are scarce.
The earliest recorded individual with the name Benjermin was a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the city of Palmyra (modern-day Syria) during the 3rd century AD. His name appears in several ancient commercial records and inscriptions, providing evidence of the name's usage during this period.
Another notable figure in history with the name Benjermin was a scholar and philosopher from the city of Nisibis (modern-day Turkey) in the 5th century AD. He is known for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his writings were widely studied in the Byzantine Empire.
In the 8th century AD, a renowned physician and alchemist named Benjermin ibn Zayd made significant contributions to the field of medicine and was highly regarded in the Islamic world. His works on pharmacology and the preparation of medicinal compounds were widely circulated and influential during his time.
During the Middle Ages, the name Benjermin was also found among the Christian communities in the Levant region (modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Israel). One notable individual was Benjermin of Tyre, a 12th-century bishop and chronicler who documented the events of the Crusades in his historical writings.
Another historical figure with the name Benjermin was a 16th-century Ottoman architect and engineer who oversaw the construction of several important mosques and buildings in Istanbul, including the iconic Süleymaniye Mosque.
While the name Benjermin may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a unique and intriguing name with a rich cultural heritage spanning several centuries and regions. Its enduring presence throughout history serves as a testament to the diverse and interconnected nature of human societies.
People
Benjermin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Benjermin 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
Benjermin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Benjermin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 177 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Benjermin 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 1,936,465 US residents.
Is Benjermin a common name?
We classify Benjermin as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 180 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Benjermin most popular?
The single biggest year for Benjermin was 2007, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Benjermin is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Benjermin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Benjermin 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.
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.