Ben

Last seen for girls in 1982 at #8,224 · #843 for boys in 2025, 292 births
Given to boys 99.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1889 · 453 births
Debut · boys
305 births
In top 100 · boys
32 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
85,349
since 1880

Ben over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201915peak #43, 1889boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#843292
2024—#800314
2023—#797311
2022—#765330
2021—#765327
2020—#768313
2019—#720339
2018—#691351
2017—#732327
2016—#698354
2015—#736331
2014—#717336
2013—#746310
2012—#743311
2011—#687344
2010—#692337
2009—#644389
2008—#613405
2007—#611409
2006—#551455
2005—#541447
2004—#525454
2003—#528440
2002—#542408
2001—#546394
2000—#559376
1999—#532391
1998—#559353
1997—#534372
1996—#578315
1995—#569322
1994—#613292
1993—#556333
1992—#535358
1991—#540352
1990—#515367
1989—#450437
1988—#435430
1987—#424426
1986—#411431
1985—#411428
1984—#386444
1983—#386431
1982#8,2247#387436
1981#8,1287#344522
1980#10,3925#349518
1979#7,3138#333549
1978#9,7505#311572
1977—#307626
1976—#303590
1975#9,0675#307603
1974—#325541
1973#8,4235#324535
1972#7,2926#309591
1971—#322578
1970—#316620
1969—#320578
1968—#299630
1967—#317553
1966—#282683
1965#6,5395#276727
1964#6,7675#260870
1963—#249945
1962#5,2937#2381,044
1961#4,8828#257934
1960#5,6966#257954
1959#4,3009#261933
1958—#261878
1957—#258855
1956—#268739
1955—#253735
1954#5,1486#256753
1953—#251746
1952#5,5635#255718
1951#4,8336#255687
1950#5,3015#250721
1949#3,6129#234761
1948—#214874
1947—#215887
1946—#210819
1945#4,5565#201717
1944—#199753
1943#4,6915#192835
1942—#186852
1941#4,4205#190767
1940—#178814
1939#3,1458#189709
1938#4,3425#172846
1937#4,2555#175814
1936#3,7016#169815
1935#2,30513#161891
1934#2,9239#169831
1933#2,40412#163868
1932—#156965
1931#3,4977#163912
1930#3,3458#154987
1929#2,30114#159957
1928#2,28415#156987
1927#2,25616#1561,011
1926#2,47414#1551,013
1925#2,19117#1531,041
1924#2,51414#1411,170
1923#2,73212#1481,049
1922#3,3799#1391,120
1921#3,4009#1391,124
1920#2,26316#1371,138
1919#2,38414#1261,215
1918#2,10217#1281,276
1917#1,77320#1291,128
1916#2,13315#1191,191
1915#3,1348#1131,263
1914#2,26510#1101,005
1913#2,8276#108809
1912#2,3607#102731
1911#1,9567#86467
1910—#79454
1909—#84358
1908—#78353
1907—#82314
1906—#82285
1905—#84290
1904#1,6596#83282
1903—#81259
1902—#79273
1901—#73259
1900—#73355
1899—#73259
1898—#69310
1897#1,2637#65291
1896—#69299
1895—#63324
1894—#62326
1893—#62321
1892—#60361
1891—#61302
1890—#54363
1889#1,0257#43453
1888—#47463
1887—#58305
1886—#56335
1885—#62292
1884—#52367
1883—#56306
1882—#55334
1881—#56289
1880—#58305
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Ben was already there! It came in at #58, and was given to 305 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1890–1909, when fewer than 370 boys a year got the name.

Where Ben is popular in 1915

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedNHWashington: #107 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 564 boysWAIdaho: #139 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 606 boysIDMontana: #78 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 339 boysMTNorth Dakota: #142 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 655 boysNDMinnesota: #137 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 865 boysMNIllinois: #119 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 670 boysILWisconsin: #124 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 706 boysWIMichigan: #129 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 806 boysMINew York: #136 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 1,031 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedSDIowa: #150 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 939 boysIAIndiana: #176 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,334 boysINOhio: #135 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 959 boysOHPennsylvania: #185 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 2,009 boysPANew Jersey: #167 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,905 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #88 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 491 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedUTColorado: #76 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 315 boysCONebraska: #110 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 546 boysNEMissouri: #95 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 494 boysMOKentucky: #69 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 341 boysKYWest Virginia: #258 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,854 boysWVVirginia: #192 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,289 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedDEArizona: #56 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 227 boysAZNew Mexico: #36 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 151 boysNMKansas: #146 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 893 boysKSArkansas: #92 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 406 boysARTennessee: #60 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 298 boysTNNorth Carolina: #103 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 550 boysNCSouth Carolina: #37 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 191 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #99 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 446 boysOKLouisiana: #92 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 413 boysLAMississippi: #58 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 279 boysMSAlabama: #71 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 376 boysALGeorgia: #60 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 287 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Ben, so not publishedHITexas: #63 for boys · 126 births · 1 in 294 boysTXFlorida: #122 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 623 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Mexico#36 · 1 in 151
  2. South Carolina#37 · 1 in 191
  3. Arizona#56 · 1 in 227
  4. Mississippi#58 · 1 in 279
  5. Georgia#60 · 1 in 287

Best ever in a state: #15 in New Mexico, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Mexico#36181 in 151
South Carolina#37791 in 191
Arizona#5691 in 227
Mississippi#58541 in 279
Georgia#60861 in 287
Tennessee#60591 in 298
Texas#631261 in 294
Kentucky#69551 in 341
Alabama#71521 in 376
Colorado#76181 in 315
Montana#78121 in 339
California#88351 in 491
Arkansas#92321 in 406
Louisiana#92341 in 413
Missouri#95481 in 494
Oklahoma#99341 in 446
North Carolina#103431 in 550
Washington#107131 in 564
Nebraska#110181 in 546
Illinois#119711 in 670
Florida#122121 in 623
Wisconsin#124271 in 706
Michigan#129301 in 806
Ohio#135411 in 959
New York#136761 in 1,031
Minnesota#137201 in 865
Idaho#13951 in 606
North Dakota#14291 in 655
Kansas#146141 in 893
Iowa#150181 in 939
New Jersey#167121 in 1,905
Indiana#176151 in 1,334
Pennsylvania#185361 in 2,009
Virginia#192141 in 1,289
West Virginia#25861 in 1,854
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Ben
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 43 spots since 2024 (#800 → #843)
  • 75 spots since 2020 (#768 → #843)
  • 107 spots since 2015 (#736 → #843)
  • Biggest jump: 44 spots in 1995 (#613 → #569)
  • Biggest drop: 65 spots in 1990 (#450 → #515)
Rise & fade · boys
9 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1889 at #43 (453 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 32 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 32 yrs · run 1880–1911
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 244
  • Highest: 1 in 244 boys born in 1889 were named Ben (0.41%)
  • Latest: 1 in 5,850 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 12.4% of all boys named Ben (10,610) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s3,449#43 (1889)#54
1890s3,156#54 (1890)#64
1900s3,028#73 (1900)#80
1910s9,539#79 (1910)#110
1920s10,610#137 (1920)#148
1930s8,638#154 (1930)#167
1940s8,079#178 (1940)#202
1950s7,765#250 (1950)#257
1960s7,918#238 (1962)#276
1970s5,805#303 (1976)#316
1980s4,503#344 (1981)#398
1990s3,455#515 (1990)#553
2000s4,177#525 (2004)#566
2010s3,340#687 (2011)#716
2020s1,887#765 (2022)#790

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Ben in 1915

girls
#3,134
8 births · 1 in 122,982 girls
boys
#113
1,263 births · 1 in 672 boys

Top girls' names in 1915

  1. #1Mary58,187
  2. #2Helen30,866
  3. #3Dorothy25,154
  4. #4Margaret23,054
  5. #5Ruth21,878
  6. #6Mildred15,254
  7. #7Anna15,119
  8. #8Elizabeth14,103
  9. #9Frances12,786
  10. #10Evelyn11,595
  11. #3,134Ben8

Top boys' names in 1915

  1. #1John47,576
  2. #2William38,563
  3. #3James33,773
  4. #4Robert28,737
  5. #5Joseph23,051
  6. #6George22,307
  7. #7Charles21,960
  8. #8Edward15,889
  9. #9Frank15,006
  10. #10Thomas11,490
  11. #113Ben1,263
More about 1915

girls

983,852 girls got a published name in 1915; 1 in 122,982 of them was named Ben, which outranked 36.9% of the 4,967 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ben
  1. #2,900Zilla9
  2. #2,900Zofia9
  3. #2,900Zonie9
  4. #3,134Ben8
  5. #3,134Adalene8
  6. #3,134Adalyn8
  7. #3,134Adria8
  8. #3,434Adelyne7
  9. #3,434Albertia7
  10. #3,434Alexine7

Tied with 299 names at #3,134; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. ↑ 500Gerda#1,444 → #944
  2. ↑ 451Theda#1,034 → #583
  3. ↑ 441Dominga#1,385 → #944
  4. ↑ 354Vernon#1,344 → #990
  5. ↑ 308Loyce#1,147 → #839
Fallers
  1. ↓ 383Drusilla#956 → #1,339
  2. ↓ 342Rossie#798 → #1,140
  3. ↓ 335Arlie#855 → #1,190
  4. ↓ 329Orene#956 → #1,285
  5. ↓ 329Margot#988 → #1,317

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

848,575 boys got a published name in 1915; 1 in 672 of them was named Ben, which outranked 97.4% of the 4,390 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ben
  1. #110Steve1,335
  2. #111Hugh1,318
  3. #112Marion1,295
  4. #113Ben1,263
  5. #114Jessie1,240
  6. #115Luther1,198
  7. #116Hubert1,195
Biggest movers since 1914
Risers
  1. ↑ 691Eston#1,687 → #996
  2. ↑ 565Estill#1,545 → #980
  3. ↑ 545Garth#1,260 → #715
  4. ↑ 474Hiroshi#1,342 → #868
  5. ↑ 439Domingo#1,101 → #662
Fallers
  1. ↓ 674Gilmore#986 → #1,660
  2. ↓ 667Barnett#933 → #1,600
  3. ↓ 526Rose#884 → #1,410
  4. ↓ 517Toivo#855 → #1,372
  5. ↓ 461Sampson#949 → #1,410

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1915 →