Benson

Benson - A very unique male name

Benson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1916 on position #755. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Benson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Benson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Benson. The baby boy name Benson was given to 1,191 baby boys in 2025, ranking #279 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,231 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Benson peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 279.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Benson, 1-5?

Benson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Benson is currently topping the baby name charts in South Dakota at position #50 - and is the least popular in California at position #573.

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 Benson is where you live.

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Benson origin and meaning

English — transferred surname

'Son of Ben' — the surname Benson is a patronymic from Ben, a short form of Benedict ('blessed')

Benson is an old English patronymic surname that has been used as a first name in small numbers since 1916. It has taken off only in the last few years, jumping from #548 in 2020 to a peak at #279 in 2025, as -son surnames for boys continue to multiply. Singer Benson Boone is the name's most visible current bearer.

Attested etymology

Benson is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Benson, pop culture references for the name Benson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Benson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Benson, sorted by popularity.

Benjamin / Benzion / Benigno / Benjamen / Benjiman / Benjaman / Benjamine / Benjamim / Benjaminjoseph / Bensen /

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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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Benson

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 Benson 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 Benson?

2 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.

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Pronunciation

BEN-sun · /ˈbɛnsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Bensen — Rare e spelling

Nicknames: BenBenny

Famous bearers

• Benson Boone — American singer known for Beautiful Things (b. 2002) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Benson is a preppy surname name with Ben built in, and it is at its most popular ever in 2025.

Worth knowing

• It is also a well-known cigarette brand name in Britain and a common surname, so some first associations are commercial or familial rather than given-name ones.