Ben
Boy name · #843 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
Ben is currently the #843 boy name in the United States — 292 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #736, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,164 boys born in 2025 was named Ben.
The 145-year story
Ben first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 305 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 1,276 boys were named Ben — good for #128 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ben per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ben against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ben in class?
Ben scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ben is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ben is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bens were NY (38), CA (34), TX (29), FL (27), NJ (26). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ben
Statistically, parents drawn to Ben tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reuben, Alvin, Sam, Carmen, and Hugh.
ReubenAlvinSamCarmenHughErvinAntonWilson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ben | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 292 | #843 |
| 2024 | 314 | #800 |
| 2023 | 311 | #797 |
| 2022 | 330 | #765 |
| 2021 | 327 | #765 |
| 2020 | 313 | #768 |
| 2019 | 339 | #720 |
| 2018 | 351 | #691 |
| 2017 | 327 | #732 |
| 2016 | 354 | #698 |
| 2015 | 331 | #736 |
| 2014 | 336 | #717 |
| 2013 | 310 | #746 |
| 2012 | 311 | #743 |
| 2011 | 344 | #687 |
| 2010 | 337 | #692 |
| 2009 | 389 | #644 |
| 2008 | 405 | #613 |
| 2007 | 409 | #611 |
| 2006 | 455 | #551 |
| 2005 | 447 | #541 |
| 2004 | 454 | #525 |
| 2003 | 440 | #528 |
| 2002 | 408 | #542 |
| 2001 | 394 | #546 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ben a popular boy name?
Ben ranked #843 among boys in 2025 with 292 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #736.
When was the name Ben most popular?
Ben peaked in 1918, when 1,276 American boys received the name (ranked #128 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ben?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,164 newborn American boys was named Ben. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.