Benjamin Pronunciation BEN -jə-minFrench: [bɛ̃ʒamɛ̃] German: [ˈbɛnjamiːn] Hebrew: [bɪnjaˈmin] Swedish: [ˈbêːnjamɪn] Gender Male Word/name בִּנְיָמִין Binyāmīn Meaning 'Son of my right hand' in Hebrew and Arabic languages Variant form(s) Benyaameen, Benyāmīn, Binyaameen, Binyāmīn Nickname(s) Ben, Bengie, Benj, Benjy, Benji, Benjie, Benjo, Benno, Benny, Benson, Benvolio, Benzino, Biniam
Benjamin is a popular given name for males, derived from Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין , Binyāmīn , translating as 'son of the right [hand]' in both Hebrew and Arabic languages, although in the Samaritan Pentateuch the name appears as Binyaamem : 'son of my days'.[ 1] [ 2]
Benjamin is often shortened to Ben , and sometimes to Benny , Benito , Benjy, Benji, etc. It 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[ 3] (see also the "youngest son " stock character in fiction). 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.
In some language with Sanskrit root, such as Thai language, Benja or Benjama is also derivative of pañca which means 'five' or 'the fifth'. And can be merged with Indra to form the name homophone name Benjamin (which means 'the fifth Indra', sometimes written Benchamin ). There are also many similar name start with Banja - or Benjama - with other combination such as Benjawan (used by some actresses and models in Thailand ) or Benjamat (female name, also means the flower Chrysanthemum ).
Alternate versions of the name exist for females, like Benjamina .
Arabic : بنيامين (Benyámén)
Bengali : বিনয়ামিন, বিন ইয়ামিন, বনিয়ামিন, বেঞ্জামিন/বেনজামিন (Binyamin, Bin yeamin , Boniamin , Benjamin/Benzamin)
Chinese : 本杰明 (Běnjiémíng) / 本雅明
Croatian : Benjamin
Czech : Benjamín
Dutch : Benjamin
English : Benjamin
Ethiopia : Biniyam
Eritrea : Biniyam
French : Benjamin
German : Benjamin
Greek : Βενιαμίν (Veniamín)
Hawaiian : Peni
Hebrew : בנימין (binyameen )
Hindi : बेंजामिन (benjaamin )
Hungarian : Benjámin
Icelandic : Benjamín
Indonesian : Benyamin, Benjamin
Italian : Beniamino
Latin : Benjamin
Japanese : ベンジャミン (Benjamin)
Korean : 벤자민 (Benjamin)
Lithuanian : Benjaminas, Benas
Macedonian : Бенџамин, Венјамин (Bendžamin, Venyamin)
Norwegian : Benjamin
Polish : Beniamin
Portuguese : Benjamim
Romanian : Benjamin
Russian : Вениамин (Veniamin , Venyamin), Веня (Venya)
Serbian : Бењамин (Benjamin)
Slovak : Benjamín
Slovenian : Benjamin, Beno
Spanish : Benjamín
Swedish : Benjamin
Telugu : బెన్యామీను (Benyaminu)
Turkish : Bünyamin, Benyamin
Yiddish : Binyomin
Notable people with the name Benjamin or its variant spellings include:
Benjamin II (1818–1864), the pen name of a Romanian traveller
Pope Benjamin II of Alexandria (1327–1339), Coptic Pope
Benjamin (Khazar) , ruler of the late 9th and early 10th centuries
Saint Benjamin (disambiguation) , multiple people
Benjamin Adler (1903–1990), American electrical engineer and inventor
Ben Affleck (born 1972), American film screenwriter, director and actor
Benjamin Agosto (born 1982), American figure skater
Benjamin Alarie (born 1977), Canadian legal scholar , law professor, and entrepreneur
Benjamin Banneker (1731–1806), American author and surveyor
Ben Barnes (actor) (born 1981), British actor
Ben Bernanke (born 1953), former chairman of the United States Federal Reserve
Benjamin Biolay (born 1973), French singer, songwriter, producer and actor
Benjamin Bowden (1906–1998), British industrial designer
Benjamin F. Bowles (1869–1928), African American civil rights leader, and founder and president of Douglass University .
Benjamin Brahmer , American football player
Benjamin Breedlove (1993–2011), American YouTube and internet personality
Benjamin Britten (1913–1976), British composer
Benjamin Burnley (born 1978), lead singer of American rock band Breaking Benjamin
Benjamin Butler (1818–1893), American lawyer, politician, soldier and businessman
Benjamin Cardozo (1870–1938), U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Benjamin Carrigan (born 1998), Australian association football player
Benjamin F. Cheatham (1820–1886), Confederate general and California gold miner
Benjamin Chee Chee (1944–1977), Canadian artist
Benjamin Constant (1767–1830), Swiss-born French politician
Benjamin Constant (Brazil) (1836–1891), Brazilian general and politician
Benjamin Cutting (born 1987), Australian cricketer
Benjamin Daviet (born 1989), French male cross-country skier and biathlete
Benjamin Diskin (born 1982), American voice actor
Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Benjamin Faunce (1873–1949), American druggist and businessman
Benjamin W. Fortson IV , American linguist
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States
Benjamin Frick (1796–1871), American politician from Pennsylvania
Benjamin Graham (1894–1976), British-born American investor, economist, and professor
Benjamin Hall (disambiguation) , multiple people
Benjamin Harrison (disambiguation) , multiple people, but most notably:
Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), 23rd president of the United States
Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791), a Founding Father of the United States, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of Virginia
Benjamin Hick (1790–1842) English engineer and inventor
Ben Hogan (1912–1997), American professional golfer
Ben Jonson (1572–1637), English playwright and poet, in his time second only to Shakespeare
Benjamin Kallos (born 1981), American lawyer and politician
Benjamin Kimutai (born 1971), Kenyan long-distance runner
Benjamin Kowalewicz (born 1975), lead singer of Canadian rock band Billy Talent
Benjamin H. Kline (1894–1974), American cinematographer and film director
Benjamin Lambert (1937–2014), American optometrist and politician
Benjamin Lay (1682–1759), Anglo-American abolitionist, activist, and humanitarian
Benjamin Leiner (Benny Leonard; the "Ghetto Wizard"; 1896–1947), American world champion lightweight Hall of Fame boxer
Benjamin Luxon (born 1937), British baritone singer
Benjamin Mazar (1906–1995), Israeli historian and archeologist; president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Benjamin McKenzie (born 1978), American actor
Benjamin Millepied (born 1977), French dancer and choreographer
Benjamin K. Miller (judge) (born 1936), American judge
Benjamin Mkapa (1938–2020), 3rd president of Tanzania
Benjamin Mwangata (born 1966), Tanzanian boxer
Benjamin Netanyahu (born 1949), Israeli prime minister
Benjamin Nolot , American documentary filmmaker
Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz (born 1956), Puerto Rican-born interior designer
Benjamin of Tudela , 12th-century Spanish rabbi
Benjamin Okolski , American figure skater
Benjamin Orr (1947–2000), American bass guitarist and singer-songwriter of The Cars
Benjamin Pavard (born 1996), French professional footballer
Benjamin Peltonen , Finnish recording artist, known mononymously as Benjamin
Benjamin Franklin Perera , Sri Lankan Sinhala diplomat
Benjamin Perrin , Canadian professor
Benjamin Raschke (born 1982), German politician
Benjamin Wood Richards (1797–1851), 59th mayor of Philadelphia
Benjamin Rush (1746–1813), American politician, revolutionary, humanitarian, physician, educator, and founder of Dickinson College
Don Benjamin Rupasinghe Gunawardena (1904–1971), Sri Lankan politician
Benjamin Shapiro (born 1984), American conservative political commentator
Benjamin Frank Shelton (1902–1963) American singer
Benjamin Šeško (born 2003), Slovenian professional footballer
Ben Simm (disambiguation) , multiple people, Benjamin, including Sim, Sims, Simms
Benjamin Smoke (1960–1999), American musician
Benjamin St-Juste (born 1997), Canadian-American football player
Benyamin Sueb (1939–1995), Indonesian actor
Ben Stiller (born 1965), American actor
Benjamin Tee , Singaporean scientist and inventor
Benjamin Timbrell (c. 1683 – 1754), English master builder and architect
Benjamin (Benji) Ungar (born 1986), American fencer
Benjamin Verbič (born 1993), Slovenian professional footballer
Benjamin de Vries (born 1923), Dutch-Israeli economic historian
Benjamin Wade (1800–1878), American lawyer and US senator
Benjamin Wallace (circus owner) (1847–1921), American circus owner
Benjamin Wallace (writer) , American author and magazine writer
Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941), American linguist, known for contributing to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner (born 1984), American 2008 Gold Medal Olympic swimmer and former world record holder
Benjamin Willoughby (1855–1940), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court
Benjamin Yuen (born 1981), Hong Kong actor and singer
Benjamin Yusupov (born 1962), Israeli classical composer, conductor and pianist
Benjamin Zablocki (1941–2020), American sociologist
Benjamin Zendel , Canadian psychologist
Benjamin Zephaniah (born 1958), British poet and writer
Benjamin Zhang Bin (born 1974), Chinese Manhua artist and illustrator
Fictional characters [ edit ]
Benjamin , a donkey from George Orwell 's novel Animal Farm
Benjamin, in The Walking Dead television series
Benjamin the Elephant (original German name Benjamin Blümchen), the main character of the same named television series
Benjamin Bunny, Peter Rabbit's cousin in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter
Benjamin Button, the title character of both short story and film
Benjamin C. L. , known as Soldier Boy, from the third season of Amazon Prime Video 's The Boys
Benjamin Franklin Parker , known as Uncle Ben, from Marvel Comics 's Spider-Man
Principal Benjamin Krupp , the school principal and title character from Captain Underpants
Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce , the main character from the M*A*S*H novels , the film and the television series
Benjamin Jacob "Ben" Grimm , also known as the Thing, from Marvel Comics
Benjamin Richards/Ben Richards, main character in the 1987 movie The Running Man
Benjamin Sisko , Commanding Officer of Deep Space Nine in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine television series
Benjamin Stilton, Geronimo Stilton's nephew and a main character in the Geronimo Stilton book series
Benjamin Kirby Tennyson (better known as Ben or Ben 10) from Cartoon Network 's Ben 10 franchise
Gentle Ben , bear character created by Walt Morey, in the children's book and 1967 television series of the same name and the 1967 film Gentle Giant
Benjamin "Ben" Gross, a character on Netflix's Never Have I Ever portrayed by Jaren Lewison
Benjamin "Benjy" Compson, narrator of first section and mentally handicapped son of Jason from the William Faulkner novel "The Sound and the Fury ".
Ben Solo , son of Han Solo and Leia Organa , main character in the sequel trilogy of Star Wars Saga portrayed by Adam Driver
Ben Linus , a recurring antagonist in Lost
Abraham Cornelius Benjamin (1897–1968), American philosopher
Adam Benjamin Jr. (1935–1982), American politician
Adam Benjamin (musician) , American musician
Albert Benjamin (1909–2006), Scottish bridge player
Alec Benjamin (born 1994), American singer-songwriter
André Benjamin, the birth name of André 3000 (born 1975), American musician and actor, co-founder of Outkast
Anna Smeed Benjamin (1834–1924), American social reformer
Arthur Benjamin (1893–1960), Australian composer
Asher Benjamin (1773–1845), American architect
Benoit Benjamin (born 1964), American basketball player
Clinton Benjamin (died 2005), Nauruan politician
Collin Benjamin (born 1978), Namibian footballer
Emmanuel Benjamin (born 1955), Indian cricketer
Eno Benjamin (born 1999), American football player
Eugene S. Benjamin (1862–1941), American businessman and philanthropist
François Benjamin (born 1962), Canadian politician
Floella Benjamin (born 1949), British actress and businesswoman
George Benjamin (composer) (born 1960), British composer
Georges C. Benjamin (born 1952), American public health official
H. Jon Benjamin (born 1966), American comedian and actor
Harry Benjamin (1885–1986), German-born American sexologist
Hilde Benjamin (1902–1989), East German judge and politician
J. J. Benjamin (1818–1864), Romanian-Jewish historian and traveler
Jessica Benjamin (born 1946), American feminist and psychoanalyst
Joel Benjamin (born 1964), American chess grandmaster
John Benjamin (disambiguation) , several people
Jon Benjamin (disambiguation) , several people
Judah P. Benjamin (1811–1884), American politician and treasurer of CSA
Kelvin Benjamin (born 1991), American football wide receiver
Leanne Benjamin (born 1964), Australian ballet dancer
Lewis Saul Benjamin (1874–1932), birth name of English author Lewis Melville
Lucy Benjamin (born 1970), British actress
Maurice Benjamin , British Empire aerial gunner
Melanie Benjamin (author) (born 1962), pen name of American writer Melanie Hauser
Melanie Benjamin (Ojibwe leader) , chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Miles Benjamin (born 1988), English rugby union player
Quanteisha Benjamin (born 1991/92), Canadian singer
Rai Benjamin (born 1997), American track athlete
Raphael Benjamin (1846–1906), British-born Australian and American rabbi
Regina Benjamin (born 1956), 18th Surgeon General of the United States
René Benjamin (1885–1948), French author
Rich Benjamin , American journalist and writer
Richard Benjamin (born 1938), American actor and film director
Rick Benjamin (disambiguation) , several people
Ryan Benjamin (disambiguation) , several people
Shelton Benjamin (born 1975), American wrestler
Simeon Benjamin (1792–1868), American businessman, philanthropist, and benefactor of Elmira College
Stan Benjamin (1914–2009), American baseball player
Trevor Benjamin (born 1979), English-born Jamaican footballer
Walter Benjamin (1892–1940), German philosopher, literary critic and writer
Zoe Benjamin (1882–1962), born Sophia Benjamin, Australian early childhood educator
Fictional characters [ edit ]
Judy Benjamin, main character in the 1980 film Private Benjamin
Kikki Benjamin/Mew Kikki, English dub name of Bu-Ling Huang/Mew Pudding in the 2001 manga Tokyo Mew Mew