Ben
Ben is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Son; son of the right hand.
Origin and history
Ben originated as a short form of Benjamin or Benedict, but it has long been used as an independent given name in the United States. Derived from Hebrew roots, it traditionally means 'son'. It remains a familiar, friendly classic in American naming.
Popularity in the United States
85,349 babies in the United States have been named Ben since 1880. It ranks #347 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #755.
States where it is most popular
- TX (11.1 %)
- CA (8.5 %)
- NY (5.1 %)
- GA (4.9 %)
- TN (4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,449 |
| 1890-1900 | 3,156 |
| 1900-1910 | 3,028 |
| 1910-1920 | 9,539 |
| 1920-1930 | 10,610 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,638 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,079 |
| 1950-1960 | 7,765 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,918 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,805 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,503 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,455 |
| 2000-2010 | 4,177 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,340 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,887 |
Famous people named Ben
- Ben Affleck: Actor, Director
- Ben Stiller: Actor, Comedian
- Ben Kingsley: Actor
Fun facts
- While historically a nickname for Benjamin, Ben has been registered as an official full given name on thousands of U.S. birth certificates.
- In Hebrew, 'Ben' functions both as a standalone name component and as a prefix meaning 'son of'.