Gender:
Origin:
Hebrew
3029 famous people named Benjamin found on Wikipedia.
748259 male, 2413 female in US.
Most recent ranking:
6-th in year 2018
Best ranking:
6-th in year 2018
Used in: Biblical, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish
A male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “son of the right.”.
Benjamin is a popular given name for males, derived from Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין, Binyāmīn, translating as "Son of my right [hand]", though in the Samaritan Pentateuch, the name appears as ࠁࠍࠉࠌࠉࠌ, "Binyaamem" 'Son of my days'. It is often shortened to Ben, and sometimes to Benny, or Benjy. Benjamin is also a patronymic surname. Like many biblical names, it is popular in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths alike, having many variant forms in other languages.
The "Benjamin of the family" is a phrase used in several languages to refer to the youngest son - especially when he is much younger than his brothers; sometimes the name is chosen for a son born to mature parents unlikely to have more children, especially if he has several older siblings. Both of these usages derive from the biblical son of Jacob of that name, who occupied that position in his family.
Masc. proper name, in Old Testament, Jacob's youngest son (Genesis xxxv.18), from Hebrew Binyamin, literally "son of the south," though interpreted in Genesis as "son of the right hand," from ben "son of" + yamin "right hand," also "south" (in an East-oriented culture). Compare Arabic cognate yaman "right hand, right side, south;" yamana "he was happy," literally "he turned to the right." The right was regarded as auspicious (see left and dexterity). Also see Yemen, southpaw, and compare deasil "rightwise, turned toward the right," from Gaelic deiseil "toward the south; toward the right," from deas "right, right-hand; south." Also compare Sanskrit dakshina "right; south," and Welsh go-gledd "north," literally "left." In reference to a favorite younger son it is from the story of Jacob's family in Genesis. With familiar forms Benjy, Benny. Slang meaning "money" (by 1999) is from the portrait of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on U.S. $100 bill. In some old uses in herb-lore, etc., it is a folk-etymology corruption of benzoin.
From the Hebrew name Binyamin: son of the south, son of the right hand. Many Jewish families named their youngest child Benjamin.
Popularity | Name | Birth Year | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Benjamin Franklin | 1706 | American author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat |
2 | Benjamin Netanyahu | 1949 | Israeli prime minister |
3 | H. Jon Benjamin | 1966 | American actor, writer and comedian |
4 | Benjamin Bratt | 1963 | American actor |
5 | Benjamin Disraeli | 1804 | British Conservative politician, writer, aristocrat and Prime Minister |
6 | Benjamin Harrison | 1833 | American politician, 23rd president of the United States (in office from 1889 to 1893) |
7 | Benjamin Millepied | 1977 | Dancer, choreographer |
8 | Shelton Benjamin | 1975 | Professional wrestler |
9 | Benjamin Britten | 1913 | English composer, conductor, and pianist |
10 | Benjamin Hornigold | 1680 | English pirate |
11 | Benjamin Banneker | 1731 | Free African American scientist, surveyor, almanac author and farmer |
12 | Walter Benjamin | 1892 | German literary critic, philosopher and social critic (1892-1940) |
13 | Benjamin Clementine | 1988 | British singer and songwriter |
14 | Richard Benjamin | 1938 | Actor, film director |
15 | Benjamin Ruggiero | 1926 | American mobster |
16 | Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre | 1975 | German screenwriter, journalist and author |
17 | Benjamin Biolay | 1973 | French singer, songwriter, musician, actor and record producer |
18 | Benjamin Orr | 1947 | American musician |
19 | Benjamin Burnley | 1978 | American musician |
20 | Benjamin Bronfman | 1982 | American musician |
21 | Benjamin Tallmadge | 1754 | American politician |
22 | Benjamin Graham | 1894 | American investor |
23 | Ben Tewaag | 1976 | German television presenter |
24 | Benjamin Watson | 1980 | Gridiron football player |
25 | Benjamin Guggenheim | 1865 | Businessman |
26 | Benjamin | Biblical character | |
27 | Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin | Fictional character | |
28 | Benjamin Mendy | 1994 | Footballer |
29 | Kelvin Benjamin | 1991 | American football player |
30 | Judah P. Benjamin | 1811 | American politician and lawyer |
31 | Benjamin Rush | 1745 | American physician, educator, author |
32 | Benjamin Spock | 1903 | American pediatrician and author of Baby and Child Care |
33 | Benjamin Stambouli | 1990 | Footballer |
34 | Benjamin Zephaniah | 1958 | English poet and author |
35 | Benjamin Völz | 1960 | German actor, voice actor and painter |
36 | Travis Benjamin | 1989 | American football player |
37 | Benjamin Sisko | 2332 | Fictional character |
38 | Benjamin Diskin | 1982 | American actor |
39 | Carl Benjamin | 1979 | British YouTuber |
40 | Lucy Benjamin | 1970 | British actress |
41 | Benjamin Salisbury | 1980 | American actor |
42 | Floella Benjamin | 1949 | Actress, author, Businesswoman, Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Cultural ambassador, Chair of governors at the isle of Sheppey academy |
43 | Benjamin N. Cardozo | 1870 | United States federal judge |
44 | Benjamin Jealous | 1973 | American businessman |
45 | Owen Benjamin | 1980 | American actor |
46 | Benjamin de Rothschild | 1963 | Swiss banker, philanthropist |
47 | Benjamin Brafman | 1948 | Attorney |
48 | Benjamin West | 1738 | Anglo-American painter |
49 | Benjamin Ryan Tillman, Jr. | 1847 | American politician |
50 | Benjamin Haydon | 1786 | English painter, specialising in grand historical pictures |
51 | Benjamin Becker | 1981 | German tennis player |
52 | Benjamin Goldwasser | 1982 | American musician |
53 | Benjamin Alves | 1989 | Actor |
54 | Benjamin Bellecour | French actor | |
55 | Benjamin Moukandjo | 1988 | Cameroonian footballer |
56 | Benjamin Bloom | 1913 | American psychologist |
57 | Benjamin Lee Whorf | 1897 | American linguist |
58 | Marc Benjamin | 1986 | |
59 | Benjamin Lincoln | 1733 | Continental Army general |
60 | Benjamin Whitrow | 1937 | English actor |
61 | Benjamin Henrichs | 1997 | German footballer |
62 | Benjamin Kowalewicz | 1975 | Musician |
63 | Benjamin Libet | 1916 | American academic |
64 | Benjamin Yuen | 1981 | Hong Kong actor |
65 | Benjamin Gates | National Treasure character | |
66 | Lil' P-Nut | 2002 | American child actor, rapper, dancer and singer |
67 | Benjamin Kanes | 1977 | American actor |
68 | Regina Benjamin | 1956 | Surgeon General of the United States |
69 | Benjamin Harrison V | 1726 | American planter and merchant |
70 | Paul Benjamin | 1938 | American actor |
71 | Tiana Benjamin | 1984 | Actress |
72 | Arthur T. Benjamin | 1961 | American mathematician |
73 | Benjamin Strecker | 1982 | German actor |
74 | Benjamin Thompson | 1753 | American-born British physicist and inventor |
75 | Benjamin King | 1969 | American actor |
76 | Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. | 1912 | American World War II pilot, first African-American U.S. Air Force general |
77 | Benjamin Booker | 1989 | American musician |
78 | Benjamin Atkins | 1968 | American serial killer |
79 | Benjamin Francis Leftwich | 1989 | English singer-songwriter |
80 | Benjamin Boyce | 1968 | British singer |
81 | Benjamin Stockham | 2000 | American actor |
82 | Benjamin Morgaine | 1978 | French actor |
83 | Benjamin H. Freedman | 1890 | American businessman |
84 | Benjamin Adegbuyi | 1985 | Romanian kickboxer |
85 | Benjamin Wade | 1800 | American politician |
86 | Benjamin Gilani | 1946 | Indian actor |
87 | Benjamin Tucker | 1854 | American journalist and anarchist |
88 | Medea Benjamin | 1952 | USA political activist |
89 | Benjamin Zander | 1939 | English conductor |
90 | Benjamin Mkapa | 1938 | Tanzanian politician and former president |
91 | Benjamin Constant | 1767 | Swiss-born French politician, writer on politics and religion |
92 | Benjamin Mays | 1894 | American educator, activist, minister |
93 | Benjamin Rigby | ||
94 | Benjamin L. Willard | Fictional character in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now | |
95 | Benjamin O. Davis | 1877 | United States Army general; First African American general officer in the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Military |
96 | Benjamin Henry Latrobe | 1764 | British-American architect |
97 | Ben Tatar | 1930 | American actor |
98 | Benjamin Crump | 1969 | American jurist |
99 | Benjamin Bollen | 1984 | French actor |
100 | Benjamin Edwards | 1970 | American artist |
101 | Benjamin Barber | 1939 | Academic |
102 | Benjamin Holt | 1849 | American inventor |
103 | Benjamin Lavernhe | French actor | |
104 | Benjamin Wey | Chinese American businessman | |
105 | Benjamin Franklin Tilley | 1848 | US Navy Rear Admiral, Naval Acting-Governor |
106 | Benjamin Ayres | 1977 | Canadian actor |
107 | Benjamin Bolger | 1975 | American academic |
108 | Benjamin Alire Sáenz | 1954 | Poet, novelist and writer from the United States |
109 | Benjamin Back | 1969 | Brazilian journalist |
110 | Benjamin Curtis | 1978 | September 23, 1978 |
111 | Benjamin Sheares | 1907 | President of Singapore |
112 | Benjamin Jowett | 1817 | Theologian, classical scholar, and academic administrator |
113 | Benjamin Chavis | 1948 | American activist |
114 | Alec Benjamin | American singer and songwriter | |
115 | Benjamin Wynn | Composer and music producer | |
116 | Benjamin Smith | 1989 | British actor |
117 | Benjamin of Tudela | 1130 | Jewish explorer and writer |
118 | Benjamin Zand | 1991 | British-Iranian journalist and documentary filmmaker |
119 | Benjamin Creme | 1922 | Artist, author, esotericist |
120 | Benjamin Ginsberg | 1952 | American lawyer |
121 | Benjamin Wittes | 1969 | American reporter |
122 | Benjamin A. Smith II | 1916 | American politician |
123 | Reggie Benjamin | ||
124 | Benjamin Grosvenor | 1992 | Pianist from the United Kingdom |
125 | Julia Benjamin | 1957 | American actress |
126 | Benjamin H. Vandervoort | 1917 | United States Army officer |
127 | Benjamin Law | 1982 | Australian writer |
128 | Benjamin Verbič | 1993 | Slovenian footballer |
129 | Benjamin A. Gilman | 1922 | Politician and United States Army Air Force officer |
130 | Benjamin Hendrickson | 1950 | American actor |
131 | Benjamin Diokno | 1948 | Filipino politician |
132 | Joseph Benjamin | 1976 | Nigerian actor |
133 | Benjamin Roden | 1902 | American sect leader |
134 | Benjamin Steinbruch | 1953 | |
135 | Benjamin Mako Hill | 1980 | Debian hacker, intellectual property researcher, activist and author |
136 | Benoit Benjamin | 1964 | American basketball player |
137 | Benjamin Church | 1734 | American Revolution spy |
138 | Benjamin Lancar | 1985 | French politician |
139 | Benjamin Heckendorn | 1975 | American console modder |
140 | Benjamin Radford | 1970 | American skeptic |
141 | Trevor Benjamin | 1979 | Footballer |
142 | Benjamin Grant Mitchell | 1969 | Australian actor |
143 | Benjamin McCulloch | 1811 | Confederate Army general |
144 | Benjamin Nathaniel Smith | 1978 | American racial spree killer |
145 | Benjamin Siegrist | 1992 | Swiss footballer |
146 | Benjamin Franklin Bache | 1769 | American journalist, printer and publisher |
147 | Benjamin Adekunle | 1936 | Nigerian general |
148 | Benjamin Tyler Henry | 1821 | American gunsmith and manufacturer |
149 | Harry Benjamin | 1885 | German/American endocrinologist and sexologist |
150 | Benjamin Peirce | 1809 | American mathematician |
151 | Corey Benjamin | 1978 | American basketball player |
152 | Benjamin Stone | 1987 | British actor |
153 | Benjamin Agosto | 1982 | Figure skater |
154 | Benjamin Büchel | 1989 | Footballer |
155 | George Benjamin | 1960 | British composer, conductor, pianist and teacher |
156 | Benny Benjamin | 1925 | American drummer and member of The Funk Brothers |
157 | Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins | 1807 | English sculptor and natural history artist |
158 | Benjamin Pascal | 1978 | French actor |
159 | Christopher Benjamin | 1934 | British actor |
160 | Benjamin Pavard | 1996 | French footballer |
161 | Benjamin Grierson | 1826 | Union Army General |
162 | Benjamin Civiletti | 1935 | American government official |
163 | Benjamin Bonneville | 1796 | Union Army General |
164 | Benjamin Hawkins | 1754 | American politician |
165 | Benjamin Patton | American author, filmmaker and film educator | |
166 | Benjamin Richard Parker | Fictional character in the Marvel Comics alternate future MC2 universe | |
167 | Benjamin Walker | 1753 | Continental Army officer and congressman |
168 | Benjamin Robbins Curtis | 1809 | American politician |
169 | Benjamin Purcell | 1928 | United States Army officer and a state legislator |
170 | Benjamin Peltonen | 1997 | Finnish singer |
171 | Benjamin Briggs | 1835 | American sailor |
172 | Benjamin Singleton | 1809 | (1809–1900) American activist and businessman |
173 | Benjamin Fondane | 1898 | Romanian-French writer |
174 | Benjamin Gratz Brown | 1826 | American politician |
175 | Benjamin Hooks | 1925 | American civil rights leader |
176 | Benjamin Jaworskyj | 1986 | German radio host |
177 | Benjamin Busch | 1968 | Recipient of the Purple Heart medal |
178 | Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover | 1802 | British politician |
179 | Benjamin Diamond | 1972 | French singer |
180 | Benjamin Stoddert | 1751 | United States Secretary of the Navy |
181 | Benjamin M. Rosen | 1933 | American businessman |
182 | Stephen K. Benjamin | 1969 | American politician |
183 | Benjamin Cook | 1982 | An English journalist and writer |
184 | Benjamin Bradley | Slave who became an engineer | |
185 | Arthur Benjamin | 1893 | Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher |
186 | Benjamin Penamaria | French Spanish actor and composer | |
187 | Benjamin Newton Duke | 1855 | American businessman |
188 | Benjamin Milam | 1788 | Texan revolutionary |
189 | Benjamin Huntsman | 1704 | British inventor |
190 | Benjamin Raich | 1978 | Austrian alpine ski racer |
191 | Ben Horne | 1940 | Fictional character in the television series Twin Peaks |
192 | Benjamin Morrell | 1795 | American explorer |
193 | Benjamin Silliman, Sr. | 1779 | Early American chemist and science educator |
194 | Daniel Benjamin | 1961 | American political scientist |
195 | Benjamin Hoff | 1946 | American writer |
196 | Benjamin Bayart | 1973 | Telecommunications expert and former president of French Data Network |
197 | Benjamin Baker | 1840 | British engineer |
198 | Benjamin Castaldi | 1970 | French television presenter |
199 | Benjamin Goodrich | 1841 | Founder of B.F. Goodrich Company |
200 | Benjamin Godard | 1849 | French composer |