Benaiah is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Bible. It is mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Chronicles and Samuel. Benaiah was one of King David's mighty warriors, known for his bravery and skill in battle.
The name Benaiah means "Yahweh has built" or "Yahweh has created". The root verb "banah" means to build or create, and "Yahweh" is the Hebrew name for God. This meaning reflects a belief that God has gifted this person with certain abilities or has played a role in their creation.
In the Bible, Benaiah was a member of King David's army during the period around 1000 BCE. He is described as being one of the "three mighty men" who performed acts of great courage and heroism. One story tells how Benaiah killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day, an act that demonstrates his bravery and strength.
The name Benaiah has been used throughout history among Jewish communities but has also gained popularity among other religious denominations due to its biblical origin. It is often seen as a symbol of faith, courage, and strength.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Benaiah has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. Between 1976 and 2023, there were a total of 2080 births registered with the name Benaiah.
The earliest years on record, from 1976 to 1995, show fluctuating numbers of births, ranging from a low of 5 in 1977 to a high of 17 in 1996. However, starting in 1996, we observe a steady rise in the number of babies named Benaiah.
From 1996 to 2005, the number of births doubled from 17 to 35. The years 2006 to 2010 marked another significant jump, with the number of births more than tripling from 35 to 61. This trend continued into the next decade, reaching a peak of 166 births in 2021.
Despite a slight dip in popularity in recent years (158 births in 2019, 122 in 2020), the name Benaiah maintains its status as a popular choice for parents in the United States. The most recent data from 2023 shows that 120 babies were named Benaiah at birth.
In conclusion, while Benaiah was not among the top choices for baby names in the early years of this dataset, its popularity has grown steadily over time, making it a well-established name in the United States by the end of the second decade of the 21st century.