Ben - A very unique male name
Ben at a glance
Ben is ranked #857 among boy baby names in 2025, with 235 births in 2025. It peaked in 1910 at #79 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #857
- Births in 2025
- 235
- Peak year
- 1910 (#79)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #764 in 2020 → #857 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 6,240 boys
- Visitor rating
- 3.5/5 (13 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 6,240 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ben peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 79.
Famous with this name
Ben Affleck
Ben Stiller
Ben Barnes
How would you rate Ben, 1-5?
Ben is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ben is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #325 - and is the least popular in Illinois at position #1,309.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ben is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Ben origin and meaning
Hebrew, via Benjamin
A short form of Benjamin (Hebrew Binyamin, 'son of the right hand') and sometimes of Benedict; ben is also the Hebrew word for 'son'
Ben is the short form that outgrew its parents: Benjamin has been a top name for a century, and Ben on its own has been on birth certificates since 1910. Underneath it is the biblical Benjamin, youngest son of Jacob, whose name promised favour — 'son of the right hand'. It drifts rather than trends, familiar in every generation.
Attested etymology
Ben is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.
To see famous people named Ben, pop culture references for the name Ben and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Ben
We've found the following names that sound similar to Ben, sorted by popularity.
Bennie / Benny / Bowen / Boone / Bonnie / Benaiah / Binyomin / Binyamin / Benyamin / Bane /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 857 |
| 2024 | 812 |
| 2023 | 794 |
| 2022 | 811 |
| 2021 | 781 |
| 2020 | 764 |
| 2019 | 754 |
| 2018 | 702 |
| 2017 | 753 |
| 2016 | 718 |
| 2015 | 740 |
| 2014 | 709 |
| 2013 | 747 |
| 2012 | 769 |
| 2011 | 690 |
| 2010 | 704 |
| 2009 | 651 |
| 2008 | 622 |
| 2007 | 617 |
| 2006 | 553 |
| 2005 | 544 |
| 2004 | 525 |
| 2003 | 539 |
| 2002 | 547 |
| 2001 | 542 |
| 2000 | 554 |
| 1999 | 538 |
| 1998 | 575 |
| 1997 | 542 |
| 1996 | 591 |
| 1995 | 579 |
| 1994 | 635 |
| 1993 | 575 |
| 1992 | 538 |
| 1991 | 543 |
| 1990 | 513 |
| 1989 | 454 |
| 1988 | 441 |
| 1987 | 425 |
| 1986 | 412 |
| 1985 | 427 |
| 1984 | 389 |
| 1983 | 393 |
| 1982 | 397 |
| 1981 | 344 |
| 1980 | 353 |
| 1979 | 328 |
| 1978 | 312 |
| 1977 | 306 |
| 1976 | 302 |
| 1975 | 307 |
| 1974 | 325 |
| 1973 | 325 |
| 1972 | 302 |
| 1971 | 321 |
| 1970 | 309 |
| 1969 | 320 |
| 1968 | 299 |
| 1967 | 312 |
| 1966 | 283 |
| 1965 | 273 |
| 1964 | 260 |
| 1963 | 249 |
| 1962 | 238 |
| 1961 | 256 |
| 1960 | 255 |
| 1959 | 261 |
| 1958 | 263 |
| 1957 | 256 |
| 1956 | 267 |
| 1955 | 252 |
| 1954 | 256 |
| 1953 | 251 |
| 1952 | 256 |
| 1951 | 254 |
| 1950 | 249 |
| 1949 | 235 |
| 1948 | 214 |
| 1947 | 214 |
| 1946 | 211 |
| 1945 | 198 |
| 1944 | 200 |
| 1943 | 191 |
| 1942 | 184 |
| 1941 | 190 |
| 1940 | 180 |
| 1939 | 187 |
| 1938 | 175 |
| 1937 | 175 |
| 1936 | 166 |
| 1935 | 161 |
| 1934 | 168 |
| 1933 | 162 |
| 1932 | 155 |
| 1931 | 159 |
| 1930 | 153 |
| 1929 | 158 |
| 1928 | 155 |
| 1927 | 155 |
| 1926 | 156 |
| 1925 | 152 |
| 1924 | 140 |
| 1923 | 146 |
| 1922 | 139 |
| 1921 | 140 |
| 1920 | 136 |
| 1919 | 126 |
| 1918 | 128 |
| 1917 | 129 |
| 1916 | 119 |
| 1915 | 113 |
| 1914 | 109 |
| 1913 | 107 |
| 1912 | 101 |
| 1911 | 84 |
| 1910 | 79 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | 325 |
| Massachusetts | 384 |
| New York | 450 |
| Utah | 564 |
| Minnesota | 592 |
| Florida | 624 |
| Indiana | 670 |
| California | 755 |
| Washington | 813 |
| Texas | 879 |
| Virginia | 885 |
| Georgia | 1001 |
| Pennsylvania | 1119 |
| Ohio | 1127 |
| North Carolina | 1295 |
| Illinois | 1309 |
Even more about Ben
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Ben a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Ben?
1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
BEN · /bɛn/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Benny — The -y diminutive built on Ben
- Benjamin — The full name Ben usually shortens — a separate, established name
Famous bearers
- Ben Affleck — Actor and director (born Benjamin, universally known as Ben) (b. 1972) Contemporary
- Ben Stiller — Actor and comedian (born Benjamin, universally known as Ben) (b. 1965) Contemporary
Style
Short formNickname nameBiblicalClassic
Why parents choose it
Ben is picked for its plain-spoken warmth — one syllable, no fuss, and friendlier than the full Benjamin.
Worth knowing
- Almost everyone will assume the full name is Benjamin
- Big Ben and Ben 10 are the playground associations
