Benjiam
Son of the right hand or son of good fortune.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Benjiam. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Benjiam today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Benjiam births was 1951 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Benjiam. 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
- • The typical person named Benjiam is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Benjiams were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Benjiam. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1951
5 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1951 SSA rank
#3,759
Tracked since 1951
Popularity
Benjiam: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Benjiam 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 Benjiam during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Benjiam
The name Benjiam originates from the Hebrew language and culture, with its roots traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Binyamin," which means "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." The name bears a connection to the biblical figure Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Old Testament.
In the Book of Genesis, Benjamin is described as the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. His birth is recorded as a significant event, with Rachel naming him "Ben-Oni" (son of my sorrow) before her death, but Jacob later renamed him Benjamin. The name holds a symbolic meaning, representing the idea of strength, courage, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Benjiam can be traced back to ancient Hebrew texts and religious scriptures. However, it is worth noting that the spelling "Benjiam" is an anglicized variation of the original Hebrew name, likely influenced by various linguistic and cultural factors over time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Benjiam, leaving their mark in various fields. One of the earliest recorded figures was Benjiam of Tyre (c. 50 BCE), a renowned historian and philosopher from the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre. His writings, although largely lost, were influential in shaping the intellectual discourse of his time.
In the 12th century, Benjiam of Tudela (c. 1130-1173) was a renowned Jewish traveler and scholar from the Kingdom of Navarre. His travelogue, known as the "Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela," provided valuable insights into the Jewish communities of the medieval world, spanning from Spain to the Middle East.
During the Renaissance period, Benjiam Jonson (c. 1572-1637) was an influential English playwright, poet, and literary critic. He is best known for his satirical plays, including "Volpone" and "The Alchemist," which offered biting social commentary on the societal norms of his time.
In the 19th century, Benjiam Disraeli (1804-1881) was a British politician and author who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He is remembered for his significant contributions to the Conservative Party and his efforts to promote political and social reforms during his tenure.
More recently, Benjiam Graham (1894-1976) was an influential American economist and investor, widely regarded as the "Father of Value Investing." His groundbreaking work, "Security Analysis," laid the foundation for modern investment analysis and influenced generations of investors and financial professionals.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have carried the name Benjiam throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.
People
Benjiam + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Benjiam 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
Benjiam: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Benjiam?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Benjiam 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Benjiam a common name?
We classify Benjiam as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% 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 Benjiam most popular?
The single biggest year for Benjiam was 1951, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Benjiam is about 86 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 Benjiam in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Benjiam a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Benjiam 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 Benjiam still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Benjiam 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 Benjiam 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 many people are named Benjiam?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.