Declining since 1985, #843 for boys today.
Popularity of Ben since 1880
Babies named Ben per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ben's real moment was 1889.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,449 |
| 1890s | 3,156 |
| 1900s | 3,028 |
| 1910s | 9,539 |
| 1920s | 10,610 |
| 1930s | 8,638 |
| 1940s | 8,079 |
| 1950s | 7,765 |
| 1960s | 7,918 |
| 1970s | 5,805 |
| 1980s | 4,503 |
| 1990s | 3,455 |
| 2000s | 4,177 |
| 2010s | 3,340 |
| 2020s | 1,887 |
Meaning & origin
Ben has a long history as a given name in the United States, first recorded in 1880. Its peak popularity came in 1889, when it ranked highest in usage. Since 1985, its frequency has been steadily falling, reflecting a broader trend away from short, traditional nickname-names as standalone choices. In 2025, Ben ranked 843rd with about 1 in 5,850 boys receiving the name. Geographically, it has been most common in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York, states with historically high populations of Jewish and English-descended families who favored biblical names. As a diminutive of Benjamin, Ben carries the weight of its full form's rich heritage while offering a crisp, approachable alternative. Its simplicity has kept it in steady, if modest, use for over a century, appealing to parents seeking a familiar yet understated choice.
Ben is primarily a short form of Benjamin, derived from the Hebrew Binyamin. The name appears in the Old Testament as the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. As an independent given name, Ben has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century, often as a familiar form that became standalone.
Where Ben is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ben” around the world
Where Ben lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
95
babies in 2024
Ireland
#40
in 2025
New Zealand
10
babies in 2025
Quebec
13
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Ben
Names that share Ben's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Emma, Lily, Grace, Hannah, Sarah, Allie, Beth, Jill, Jo, Josie, Kate, Abbi, Ally, Ami, Gabby, Gena, Katy, Liz, Maddie, Maggie, Marcie, Meg, Nan, Vicky, Yetta, Cammie, Halee, Kady, Katey, Lu, Madie, Mel, Teddi, Cadie, Jaynie, Jenney, Lilybeth, Ma, Madi, Maggy, Calie, Gabbie, Hanny, Katti, Libbi, Tessy, Ammi, Betsi, Gabi, Jem, Winna
Brothers: Sam, Jack, Tom, Max, Luke, Alex, Andy, Dan, Dave, Jess, Ted, Tim, Tommy, Will, Abe, Cal, Dov, Gil, Hal, Ike, Jed, Ken, Lou, Mac, Nat, Nate, Ned, Nick, Tad, Toby, Chip, Cris, Dann, Mick, San, Sim, Tadd, Ab, Dom, Jen, Mart, Mat, Thom, Timm, Tin, Tobe, Wash, Ger, Shep, Tyke, Ac, Add, Bartt, El, Math
Names like Ben
Names whose popularity has moved with Ben's over the last 50 years.
