William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Benaiah
BoyHebrew· “God has built”
- Meaning
- God has built
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- buh-NY-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,170
- US babies 2025
- 176
- Best rank
- #1,170 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Benaiah
Benaiah is a Hebrew name that means “God has built”.
God has built, or Yahweh has built, is the meaning of the Hebrew name Benaiah. In the Bible, Benaiah son of Jehoiada is one of King David's mighty warriors, later a commander under Solomon, and he is noted for bold exploits such as killing a lion in a pit on a snowy day. Several other men named Benaiah also appear in the Hebrew Bible. The name is usually pronounced buh-NY-uh. It offers a strong biblical choice that is less common than names like Benjamin. Ben is an easy nickname.
Popularity over time
Benaiah first appears in US Social Security records in 1976. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,170, and its highest count, 176 babies. Use has grown 46% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #5,318 in 2000, #2,175 in 2010, and #1,170 in 2025. Of the 2,416 US boys named Benaiah since records began, 45% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 876 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Amado, Eythan, Tymir, Oren, and Steele.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Benaiah ranked highest in Iowa, Tennessee, and Arizona.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Benaiah is usually pronounced buh-NY-uh, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with B and ends in “-ah”.
Middle names for Benaiah
A few middle names that flow with Benaiah: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Benaiah
Similar names
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eye-ZY-uh
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Lists that include Benaiah
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Benaiah mean?
Benaiah is a Hebrew name that means “God has built”.
What is the origin of the name Benaiah?
Benaiah has Hebrew roots. God has built, or Yahweh has built, is the meaning of the Hebrew name Benaiah.
Is Benaiah a popular name?
Not especially. Benaiah ranked #1,170 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Benaiah a boy or girl name?
Benaiah is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Benaiah?
Benaiah is usually pronounced buh-NY-uh. 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