Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin that means "son of the right hand" or "favorite son". It is derived from the Hebrew phrase ben 'yamin, which translates to "son of the south", as the right hand was associated with the southern direction in ancient times.
The name Benjamin has a significant history in the Bible. He was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. According to the biblical story, Benjamin's mother died giving birth to him, so his father named him Benjamin, meaning "son of the right hand" because he considered him to be his favorite child.
The name Benjamin has been used throughout history by many notable figures, including Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States and a prominent scientist and inventor. Today, Benjamin remains a popular name for boys in many countries around the world.
In terms of its popularity, Benjamin has consistently ranked high among boy names in many parts of the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, it was one of the top ten most popular boy names between 2014 and 2019, peaking at number three in 2018.
Overall, Benjamin is a name with deep historical roots and a rich meaning that continues to be widely used today. Its popularity reflects its appealing sound and its association with notable figures throughout history.
The given statistics show the number of births with the name Benjamen in the United States from 1884 to 2023. The data demonstrates a significant increase in the popularity of this name over time, particularly in recent decades.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Benjamen was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 20 births per year on average between 1884 and 1950. However, beginning in the mid-1950s, there was a noticeable uptick in the number of babies named Benjamen each year.
From 1956 to 1973, the annual number of births with this name fluctuated between eight and 85, indicating that while it was still not one of the most popular names, it was becoming more common. This trend continued into the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the annual number of Benjamen births ranging from 60 to 99 between 1974 and 1992.
The name's popularity peaked in the mid-to-late 1990s, with more than 70 births per year every year from 1993 to 1998. This period marks the highest point of popularity for Benjamen in recent history, although it remained relatively uncommon compared to other popular names like Michael or John.
Since the turn of the century, the number of annual Benjamen births has fluctuated between nine and 70. Despite these fluctuations, there appears to be a general downward trend in the name's popularity over the past two decades, with fewer than 30 births per year every year since 2014.
In total, there have been 3674 births with the name Benjamen in the United States from 1884 to 2023. This statistic highlights the increasing popularity of this name over time, particularly during its peak years in the late 20th century. However, despite its recent decline in popularity, Benjamen remains a name with historical significance and cultural relevance in the United States.