Benny
Boy name · #841 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Benny? In official American birth records, Benny has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 293 baby boys were named Benny, placing it at #841 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1438, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,143 boys born in 2025 was named Benny.
Babies named Benny per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 143-year story
Benny first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1948, when 1,065 boys were named Benny — good for #189 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Benny against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Benny in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Benny is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Benny will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Benny is most common
Geography matters for names, and Benny is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Benny is most common in UT (0.8 per 1,000), AZ (0.4 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000), WA (0.4 per 1,000), NC (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Benny is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Benny
Benny belongs to the Benjamin family — closely related nicknames and spellings of the same name.
Counted as one name, the Benjamin family went to about 10,489 boys in 2025 — together they'd rank around #10, versus #841 for Benny alone.
Names like Benny
Statistically, parents drawn to Benny tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Danny, Johnny, Kenny, Lenny, and Teddy.
DannyJohnnyKennyLennyTeddyJimmyTommyJerry
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Benny | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 293 | #840 |
| 2024 | 267 | #888 |
| 2023 | 209 | #1044 |
| 2022 | 211 | #1044 |
| 2021 | 217 | #1006 |
| 2020 | 170 | #1144 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1188 |
| 2018 | 148 | #1244 |
| 2017 | 131 | #1360 |
| 2016 | 122 | #1421 |
| 2015 | 118 | #1438 |
| 2014 | 140 | #1272 |
| 2013 | 142 | #1243 |
| 2012 | 135 | #1293 |
| 2011 | 149 | #1183 |
| 2010 | 153 | #1179 |
| 2009 | 149 | #1209 |
| 2008 | 155 | #1165 |
| 2007 | 193 | #1002 |
| 2006 | 193 | #963 |
| 2005 | 167 | #1013 |
| 2004 | 181 | #934 |
| 2003 | 161 | #983 |
| 2002 | 193 | #859 |
| 2001 | 165 | #941 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Benny?
In official American birth records, the name Benny first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Benny a popular boy name?
Benny ranked #841 among boys in 2025 with 293 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1438.
When was the name Benny most popular?
Benny peaked in 1948, when 1,065 American boys received the name (ranked #189 that year). Since 1948 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Benny?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,143 newborn American boys was named Benny. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.