How Many People Are Named Ben?
Complete statistics for the name Ben: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Ben, a rare male name with roots in Hebrew, means 'son' or 'son of'. It's estimated that 1 in 8,467 Americans today are named Ben, totaling around 38,976 people. The majority of Bens are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life-path number 3 symbolizes creativity, self-expression, and joy.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 78All 85,211 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1918Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Ben Through the Generations
Ben has been a steady presence throughout American history, peaking in popularity during 1918 with 1,293 births. Today, the name's distribution skews older, with 70% of those named Ben being over 60 years old. This trend suggests that while Ben remains a cherished name, its usage has slowly declined over recent decades, making it a classic choice for generations past.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Ben's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name Ben
How Many People Have the Name Ben?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 3,170 people in the United States currently share the name Ben. That works out to roughly 1 in every 104,558 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Ben a Common or Rare Name?
Ben is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Ben Mean?
Ben means "son" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Ben in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Ben Most Popular?
The name Ben reached peak popularity in 1918, with 1,293 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Ben?
Approximately 3,170 people named Ben live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 3,170. That works out to roughly 1 in 104,558 Americans.
Is Ben a rare name?
Ben is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 104,558 Americans has this name.
What does the name Ben mean?
Ben means "son" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is Ben more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Ben are male and 0% are female.
When was Ben most popular?
Ben peaked in 1918 with 1,293 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.