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
- Peak · boys
- 1889 · 453 births
- Debut · boys
- 305 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 32 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 85,349since 1880
Ben over time
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #843 | 292 | |
| 2024 | — | #800 | 314 | |
| 2023 | — | #797 | 311 | |
| 2022 | — | #765 | 330 | |
| 2021 | — | #765 | 327 | |
| 2020 | — | #768 | 313 | |
| 2019 | — | #720 | 339 | |
| 2018 | — | #691 | 351 | |
| 2017 | — | #732 | 327 | |
| 2016 | — | #698 | 354 | |
| 2015 | — | #736 | 331 | |
| 2014 | — | #717 | 336 | |
| 2013 | — | #746 | 310 | |
| 2012 | — | #743 | 311 | |
| 2011 | — | #687 | 344 | |
| 2010 | — | #692 | 337 | |
| 2009 | — | #644 | 389 | |
| 2008 | — | #613 | 405 | |
| 2007 | — | #611 | 409 | |
| 2006 | — | #551 | 455 | |
| 2005 | — | #541 | 447 | |
| 2004 | — | #525 | 454 | |
| 2003 | — | #528 | 440 | |
| 2002 | — | #542 | 408 | |
| 2001 | — | #546 | 394 | |
| 2000 | — | #559 | 376 | |
| 1999 | — | #532 | 391 | |
| 1998 | — | #559 | 353 | |
| 1997 | — | #534 | 372 | |
| 1996 | — | #578 | 315 | |
| 1995 | — | #569 | 322 | |
| 1994 | — | #613 | 292 | |
| 1993 | — | #556 | 333 | |
| 1992 | — | #535 | 358 | |
| 1991 | — | #540 | 352 | |
| 1990 | — | #515 | 367 | |
| 1989 | — | #450 | 437 | |
| 1988 | — | #435 | 430 | |
| 1987 | — | #424 | 426 | |
| 1986 | — | #411 | 431 | |
| 1985 | — | #411 | 428 | |
| 1984 | — | #386 | 444 | |
| 1983 | — | #386 | 431 | |
| 1982 | #8,224 | 7 | #387 | 436 |
| 1981 | #8,128 | 7 | #344 | 522 |
| 1980 | #10,392 | 5 | #349 | 518 |
| 1979 | #7,313 | 8 | #333 | 549 |
| 1978 | #9,750 | 5 | #311 | 572 |
| 1977 | — | #307 | 626 | |
| 1976 | — | #303 | 590 | |
| 1975 | #9,067 | 5 | #307 | 603 |
| 1974 | — | #325 | 541 | |
| 1973 | #8,423 | 5 | #324 | 535 |
| 1972 | #7,292 | 6 | #309 | 591 |
| 1971 | — | #322 | 578 | |
| 1970 | — | #316 | 620 | |
| 1969 | — | #320 | 578 | |
| 1968 | — | #299 | 630 | |
| 1967 | — | #317 | 553 | |
| 1966 | — | #282 | 683 | |
| 1965 | #6,539 | 5 | #276 | 727 |
| 1964 | #6,767 | 5 | #260 | 870 |
| 1963 | — | #249 | 945 | |
| 1962 | #5,293 | 7 | #238 | 1,044 |
| 1961 | #4,882 | 8 | #257 | 934 |
| 1960 | #5,696 | 6 | #257 | 954 |
| 1959 | #4,300 | 9 | #261 | 933 |
| 1958 | — | #261 | 878 | |
| 1957 | — | #258 | 855 | |
| 1956 | — | #268 | 739 | |
| 1955 | — | #253 | 735 | |
| 1954 | #5,148 | 6 | #256 | 753 |
| 1953 | — | #251 | 746 | |
| 1952 | #5,563 | 5 | #255 | 718 |
| 1951 | #4,833 | 6 | #255 | 687 |
| 1950 | #5,301 | 5 | #250 | 721 |
| 1949 | #3,612 | 9 | #234 | 761 |
| 1948 | — | #214 | 874 | |
| 1947 | — | #215 | 887 | |
| 1946 | — | #210 | 819 | |
| 1945 | #4,556 | 5 | #201 | 717 |
| 1944 | — | #199 | 753 | |
| 1943 | #4,691 | 5 | #192 | 835 |
| 1942 | — | #186 | 852 | |
| 1941 | #4,420 | 5 | #190 | 767 |
| 1940 | — | #178 | 814 | |
| 1939 | #3,145 | 8 | #189 | 709 |
| 1938 | #4,342 | 5 | #172 | 846 |
| 1937 | #4,255 | 5 | #175 | 814 |
| 1936 | #3,701 | 6 | #169 | 815 |
| 1935 | #2,305 | 13 | #161 | 891 |
| 1934 | #2,923 | 9 | #169 | 831 |
| 1933 | #2,404 | 12 | #163 | 868 |
| 1932 | — | #156 | 965 | |
| 1931 | #3,497 | 7 | #163 | 912 |
| 1930 | #3,345 | 8 | #154 | 987 |
| 1929 | #2,301 | 14 | #159 | 957 |
| 1928 | #2,284 | 15 | #156 | 987 |
| 1927 | #2,256 | 16 | #156 | 1,011 |
| 1926 | #2,474 | 14 | #155 | 1,013 |
| 1925 | #2,191 | 17 | #153 | 1,041 |
| 1924 | #2,514 | 14 | #141 | 1,170 |
| 1923 | #2,732 | 12 | #148 | 1,049 |
| 1922 | #3,379 | 9 | #139 | 1,120 |
| 1921 | #3,400 | 9 | #139 | 1,124 |
| 1920 | #2,263 | 16 | #137 | 1,138 |
| 1919 | #2,384 | 14 | #126 | 1,215 |
| 1918 | #2,102 | 17 | #128 | 1,276 |
| 1917 | #1,773 | 20 | #129 | 1,128 |
| 1916 | #2,133 | 15 | #119 | 1,191 |
| 1915 | #3,134 | 8 | #113 | 1,263 |
| 1914 | #2,265 | 10 | #110 | 1,005 |
| 1913 | #2,827 | 6 | #108 | 809 |
| 1912 | #2,360 | 7 | #102 | 731 |
| 1911 | #1,956 | 7 | #86 | 467 |
| 1910 | — | #79 | 454 | |
| 1909 | — | #84 | 358 | |
| 1908 | — | #78 | 353 | |
| 1907 | — | #82 | 314 | |
| 1906 | — | #82 | 285 | |
| 1905 | — | #84 | 290 | |
| 1904 | #1,659 | 6 | #83 | 282 |
| 1903 | — | #81 | 259 | |
| 1902 | — | #79 | 273 | |
| 1901 | — | #73 | 259 | |
| 1900 | — | #73 | 355 | |
| 1899 | — | #73 | 259 | |
| 1898 | — | #69 | 310 | |
| 1897 | #1,263 | 7 | #65 | 291 |
| 1896 | — | #69 | 299 | |
| 1895 | — | #63 | 324 | |
| 1894 | — | #62 | 326 | |
| 1893 | — | #62 | 321 | |
| 1892 | — | #60 | 361 | |
| 1891 | — | #61 | 302 | |
| 1890 | — | #54 | 363 | |
| 1889 | #1,025 | 7 | #43 | 453 |
| 1888 | — | #47 | 463 | |
| 1887 | — | #58 | 305 | |
| 1886 | — | #56 | 335 | |
| 1885 | — | #62 | 292 | |
| 1884 | — | #52 | 367 | |
| 1883 | — | #56 | 306 | |
| 1882 | — | #55 | 334 | |
| 1881 | — | #56 | 289 | |
| 1880 | — | #58 | 305 | |
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 1923
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Arizona#55 · 1 in 214
- Mississippi#60 · 1 in 313
- South Carolina#60 · 1 in 322
- Kentucky#80 · 1 in 438
- Alabama#88 · 1 in 456
Best ever in a state: #15 in New Mexico, 1911.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #55 | 16 | 1 in 214 |
| Mississippi | #60 | 60 | 1 in 313 |
| South Carolina | #60 | 61 | 1 in 322 |
| Kentucky | #80 | 59 | 1 in 438 |
| Alabama | #88 | 56 | 1 in 456 |
| Colorado | #92 | 20 | 1 in 433 |
| Florida | #92 | 23 | 1 in 444 |
| Texas | #92 | 121 | 1 in 430 |
| Georgia | #95 | 57 | 1 in 496 |
| New Mexico | #100 | 10 | 1 in 401 |
| Washington | #102 | 18 | 1 in 535 |
| Arkansas | #104 | 37 | 1 in 478 |
| Tennessee | #105 | 40 | 1 in 605 |
| Montana | #114 | 7 | 1 in 604 |
| North Carolina | #117 | 53 | 1 in 630 |
| California | #121 | 50 | 1 in 676 |
| Oregon | #126 | 8 | 1 in 712 |
| Idaho | #129 | 6 | 1 in 594 |
| Oklahoma | #137 | 32 | 1 in 701 |
| Missouri | #146 | 31 | 1 in 942 |
| Utah | #151 | 7 | 1 in 690 |
| Louisiana | #166 | 21 | 1 in 908 |
| South Dakota | #172 | 6 | 1 in 1,021 |
| Illinois | #181 | 38 | 1 in 1,505 |
| Ohio | #183 | 30 | 1 in 1,739 |
| Michigan | #194 | 22 | 1 in 1,639 |
| Virginia | #194 | 17 | 1 in 1,405 |
| Indiana | #199 | 14 | 1 in 1,848 |
| Pennsylvania | #205 | 33 | 1 in 2,677 |
| Nebraska | #217 | 7 | 1 in 1,723 |
| Minnesota | #218 | 11 | 1 in 2,017 |
| New York | #233 | 33 | 1 in 2,857 |
| Kansas | #234 | 8 | 1 in 2,036 |
| New Jersey | #279 | 6 | 1 in 4,923 |
| Wisconsin | #282 | 7 | 1 in 3,390 |
| Iowa | #314 | 5 | 1 in 4,170 |
| West Virginia | #315 | 6 | 1 in 2,870 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1889 at #43 (453 births)
- Not yet halved from its peak
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 32 yrs · run 1880–1911
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 244 boys born in 1889 were named Ben (0.41%)
- Latest: 1 in 5,850 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
- 12.4% of all boys named Ben (10,610) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,449 | #43 (1889) | #54 |
| 1890s | 3,156 | #54 (1890) | #64 |
| 1900s | 3,028 | #73 (1900) | #80 |
| 1910s | 9,539 | #79 (1910) | #110 |
| 1920s | 10,610 | #137 (1920) | #148 |
| 1930s | 8,638 | #154 (1930) | #167 |
| 1940s | 8,079 | #178 (1940) | #202 |
| 1950s | 7,765 | #250 (1950) | #257 |
| 1960s | 7,918 | #238 (1962) | #276 |
| 1970s | 5,805 | #303 (1976) | #316 |
| 1980s | 4,503 | #344 (1981) | #398 |
| 1990s | 3,455 | #515 (1990) | #553 |
| 2000s | 4,177 | #525 (2004) | #566 |
| 2010s | 3,340 | #687 (2011) | #716 |
| 2020s | 1,887 | #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 1923
Top girls' names in 1923
Top boys' names in 1923
More about 1923
girls
1,206,366 girls got a published name in 1923; 1 in 100,531 of them was named Ben, which outranked 52.4% of the 5,739 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #2,587Wilhemina13
- #2,587Willette13
- #2,587Willine13
- #2,732Ben12
- #2,732Alvenia12
- #2,732Andree12
- #2,732Annabella12
- #2,917Adalene11
- #2,917Adlean11
- #2,917Ala11
Tied with 184 names at #2,732; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,096,102 boys got a published name in 1923; 1 in 1,045 of them was named Ben, which outranked 97.0% of the 4,904 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 32.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.