Benjamin
Boy name · #11 in 2025 · Very well-known
How old is the name Benjamin? In official American birth records, Benjamin has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 9,762 baby boys were named Benjamin, placing it at #11 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #10, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 184 boys born in 2025 was named Benjamin.
Babies named Benjamin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Benjamin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 490 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1989, when 15,733 boys were named Benjamin — good for #29 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Benjamin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Benjamin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Benjamin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Benjamin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Benjamin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Benjamin is most common in RI (14 per 1,000), VT (12 per 1,000), AK (12 per 1,000), NH (12 per 1,000), MA (12 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 6.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Benjamin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Benjamin
Benjamin carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
Counted as one name, the Benjamin family went to about 10,489 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #10, versus #11 for Benjamin alone.
Names like Benjamin
Statistically, parents drawn to Benjamin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Samuel, Daniel, Alexander, Jonathan, and Matthew.
SamuelDanielAlexanderJonathanMatthewAnthonyAaronNathan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Benjamin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9,762 | #11 |
| 2024 | 9,865 | #11 |
| 2023 | 10,224 | #11 |
| 2022 | 10,912 | #9 |
| 2021 | 11,895 | #7 |
| 2020 | 12,264 | #7 |
| 2019 | 13,044 | #7 |
| 2018 | 13,488 | #6 |
| 2017 | 13,858 | #6 |
| 2016 | 14,686 | #6 |
| 2015 | 13,732 | #10 |
| 2014 | 13,830 | #12 |
| 2013 | 13,515 | #14 |
| 2012 | 12,835 | #16 |
| 2011 | 13,082 | #19 |
| 2010 | 12,439 | #22 |
| 2009 | 13,123 | #19 |
| 2008 | 12,958 | #25 |
| 2007 | 13,282 | #26 |
| 2006 | 13,766 | #24 |
| 2005 | 13,586 | #25 |
| 2004 | 13,832 | #25 |
| 2003 | 14,086 | #24 |
| 2002 | 13,492 | #27 |
| 2001 | 14,339 | #27 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Benjamin?
In official American birth records, the name Benjamin first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 490 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Benjamin a popular boy name?
Benjamin ranked #11 among boys in 2025 with 9,762 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #10.
When was the name Benjamin most popular?
Benjamin peaked in 1989, when 15,733 American boys received the name (ranked #29 that year). Since 1989 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Benjamin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 184 newborn American boys was named Benjamin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.