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At a Glance: Name: Ben – Meaning: son of the right hand (via Benjamin) – Origin: Hebrew (short form of Benjamin, or English short form of Benedict) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: BEN
Ben (pronounced BEN) is a Hebrew name meaning "son of the right hand," used as a short form of Benjamin — or, less often, as a short form of Benedict. It's a compact, no-fuss name with over a century of use behind it in U.S. records.
Meaning & Origin of Ben
Meaning: Son of the right hand (via benjamin).
Origin: Hebrew (short form of Benjamin, or English short form of Benedict).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Ben
Phonetic: BEN IPA: /ˈbɛn/
Popularity of Ben
Ben has been recorded in Social Security data every year from 1880 to 2024, peaking at #43 in 1889 with 453 babies; by 2024 it ranked #801, given to 313 boys.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Ben Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Ben, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Ben mean?
Son of the right hand (via benjamin). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ben)
How do you pronounce Ben?
Ben is pronounced BEN (IPA: /ˈbɛn/).
Is Ben a popular name right now?
Ben peaked at #43 in 1889 and is ranked #801 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Ben? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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