Benny
Boy name · #841 in 2025 · Uniqueness 39/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Benny scores 39 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 Benny is most common
Geography matters for names, and Benny is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Bennys were CA (44), TX (28), FL (16), NC (16), UT (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 39/100 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.