Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ben
BoyHebrew· “son of the right hand”
- Meaning
- son of the right hand
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- BEN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #843
- US babies 2025
- 292
- Best rank
- #43 (1889)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Ben
Ben is a Hebrew name that means “son of the right hand”.
Ben is a short form of Benjamin, from the Hebrew Binyamin, usually translated as "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." In the Bible, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel and the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. Ben can also shorten names such as Benedict and Bennett. It has been used on its own for generations, and Benjamin Franklin, often called Ben, gave it a strong American association. The name is short, warm and dependable, and it suits a child as easily as an adult.
Other spellings with the same sound: Benn.
Popularity over time
Ben has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #43 in 1889, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,276 were named Ben. In 2025, 292 babies were named Ben, and it ranked #843 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #137 in 1920, #250 in 1950, #349 in 1980, #559 in 2000, #692 in 2010, and #843 in 2025. Of the 85,349 US boys named Ben since records began, 12% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 9,539 babies. Since 2010, 5,227 more have been named Ben.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Wilson, Julius, Irving, Emil, and Morris.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ben ranked highest in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #325 | 26 |
| Massachusetts | #384 | 13 |
| New York | #450 | 38 |
| Utah | #564 | 7 |
| Minnesota | #592 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Ben is usually pronounced BEN, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with B and ends in “-en”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Benn.
Middle names for Ben
A few middle names that flow with Ben: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ben
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Lists that include Ben
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ben mean?
Ben is a Hebrew name that means “son of the right hand”.
What is the origin of the name Ben?
Ben has Hebrew roots. Ben is a short form of Benjamin, from the Hebrew Binyamin, usually translated as "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." In the Bible, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel and the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel.
Is Ben a popular name?
Yes. Ben ranked #843 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Ben a boy or girl name?
Ben is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Ben?
Ben is usually pronounced BEN. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings