Origin and Meaning of Ben
Meaning & Origin
Son of the right hand
Origin: Hebrew - Derived from the Hebrew name Binyamin, which combines 'ben' meaning 'son' and 'yamin' meaning 'right hand'.
Interesting Facts
- Ben is often used as a standalone name, but it is also a common diminutive of Benjamin and other names that begin with Ben.
- The name has a strong presence in Hebrew culture, being associated with the biblical character Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Jacob.
- Notable bearers of the name include U.S. President Benjamin Franklin and British actor Ben Kingsley.
- Ben has remained consistently popular in many English-speaking countries and has seen a resurgence since the late 20th century.
- Variations of Ben include Benjamin, Bennett, and Benji, as well as forms in other languages like Benoît in French.