Benjamin is a name of Hebrew origin that means "son of the right hand" or "favorite son." In ancient times, the right hand was considered the stronger and more powerful side, while being the favorite son meant that you were loved and favored by your parents. This name has been popular throughout history, with many notable figures bearing it.
The name Benjamin first appears in the Bible as one of the 12 sons of Jacob. He was known for his strength and intelligence, which made him a beloved figure among his brothers. In fact, his mother Rachel named him Benjamin because she believed that he would bring her much happiness, as the Hebrew word "ben" means son and "yamim" means days.
Over time, the name Benjamin has been adopted by various cultures and languages around the world. In France, for example, it is spelled Benoît and pronounced in a similar way. Meanwhile, in Spanish-speaking countries, it becomes Benito or Benjamín.
Despite its popularity throughout history, the name Benjamin remains a unique and distinctive choice today. Whether you're looking for a strong and powerful name like its biblical namesake, or simply love its sound and meaning, Benjamin is an excellent choice for your child.
The name Benjamine has been given to a total of 1,806 babies born in the United States between 1880 and 2018, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
Looking at the annual statistics for this period, we can observe that the name's popularity has varied significantly over time. In fact, Benjamine was quite popular during the early decades of the 20th century, with a peak of 35 births in 1919 and consistent numbers above 20 births per year until the mid-1920s.
However, after this peak, the popularity of the name began to decline gradually. By the late 1940s, fewer than 10 babies were being named Benjamine each year on average. This trend continued throughout most of the second half of the century, with only occasional brief periods of increased popularity.
For example, there was a small resurgence in the use of the name in the mid-1970s, with over 20 births per year between 1974 and 1978. There were also peaks in the early 1980s and late 1980s, with around 30 births each year.
Nevertheless, these periods of increased popularity were not sustained, and overall, the name Benjamine has been relatively uncommon in recent decades. Between 2000 and 2018, there were fewer than 15 babies named Benjamine per year on average, with some years seeing only a handful of births.
In conclusion, while Benjamine was once a popular choice for parents in the United States, its popularity has waned over time. However, it is still possible to find individuals bearing this name today, and who knows – perhaps it will make a comeback in the future!