Declining since 2016, #1,621 for boys today.
Popularity of Benton since 1880
Babies named Benton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Benton's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 125 |
| 1890s | 81 |
| 1900s | 110 |
| 1910s | 542 |
| 1920s | 770 |
| 1930s | 601 |
| 1940s | 627 |
| 1950s | 593 |
| 1960s | 590 |
| 1970s | 516 |
| 1980s | 717 |
| 1990s | 952 |
| 2000s | 1,081 |
| 2010s | 2,224 |
| 2020s | 886 |
Meaning & origin
Benton originated as an English surname before transitioning to a given name, a path common among American names in the 19th century. It first appeared in recorded U.S. data in 1880 and reached its peak in 1883, when it was more popular than its rank of 1621 in 2025 would suggest. Today, Benton is given to roughly 1 in 16,424 boys, a rarity that appeals to parents seeking a name with historical resonance. Its trajectory has been falling since 2016, reflecting a broader shift away from surname-style names. Benton is most common in Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Alabama, states where traditional, understated names retain favor.
Benton is an English surname that originated as a habitational name from a place name. It derives from Old English 'beonet' (bent grass) and 'tun' (enclosure or settlement), meaning 'settlement where bent grass grows'. The name first appeared as a given name in the 19th century, likely inspired by the American frontiersman Thomas Hart Benton.
Where Benton 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ben, Benny
Sibling names for Benton
Names that share Benton's style, for a brother or sister.
