Ben

maleHebrew/Germanic, short form

A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard.

Origin: Hebrew/Germanic, short form

Official popularity data is available for 7 regions, from 1950 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #6 in Northern Ireland in 2004. See regions.

Ben: Recorded since 1950, it reached #6 in 2004, and it was still inside the top 100 in 2025.

7registrars recorded it
228times a registrar ranked it
76years from first to last
#6highest recorded position
43groupings it qualifies for
45names it appears alongside

What stands out in Ben's record

Held a top-100 place for 50 years running. Names by top-100 run
England and Wales registered 3,190 births with the name in 2002, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count
Moved 229 places between two consecutive years — its largest recorded change. Names by largest single-year move
Appears alongside 45 other names across 8 kinds of recorded relationship. All recorded relationships

BEN/ˈbɛn/

Compare Ben Run Name Checker on Ben

Data Confidence

Evidence: ModerateCompleteness: SubstantialEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (7) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Hebrew/Germanic, short form
Meaning: A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard.
Pronunciation: BEN
Syllables: 1
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: male
Language family: Hebrew/Germanic, short form

Popularity

Region

Falling

among boys in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Boys rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#34
1997	#30
1998	#29
1999	#31
2000	#31
2001	#31
2002	#21
2003	#26
2004	#27
2005	#32
2006	#38
2007	#48
2008	#57
2009	#65
2010	#73
2011	#97
2012	#118
2013	#140
2014	#156
2015	#165
2016	#206
2017	#234
2018	#274
2019	#325
2020	#327
2021	#348
2022	#371
2023	#447
2024	#509
2025	#487

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Boys

Recorded in official data among boys in Norway in 65 of the 74 years from 1950 to 2023.

In 2025: #40 among boys in Republic of Ireland, #487 among boys in England and Wales.

Official data from 7 national registrars across 7 regions, 1950–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Popularity journey

First recorded1950
First recorded at #376 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #487 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys

Ben appears in 6 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Norway · Boys, which has ranked it in 65 years beginning in 1950, and has registered 574 births with the name.

Ben across 6 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Ben's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Norway · Boys	#376 (1950)	#233 (1965)	#355 (2023)	65 of 74	574 (1950–2023)	19 (1965)
Republic of Ireland · Boys	#283 (1978)	#14 (2005)	#40 (2025)	47 of 48	7,745 (1978–2025)	401 (2005)
New Zealand · Boys	#91 (1981)	#38 (2002)	#79 (2011)	31 of 31	2,427 (1981–2011)	114 (2004)
England and Wales · Boys	#34 (1996)	#21 (2002)	#487 (2025)	30 of 30	36,435 (1996–2025)	3,190 (2002)
New South Wales, Australia · Boys	#62 (1976)	#41 (1981)	#99 (2004)	26 of 29	3,531 (1976–2004)	198 (1981)
Northern Ireland · Boys	#41 (1997)	#6 (2004)	#125 (2024)	28 of 28	2,892 (1997–2024)	226 (2004)

Ben by decade in Norway · Boys

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Ben in Norway · Boys, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1950s	41	6 of 10	7
1960s	103	10 of 10	10
1970sbusiest	127	10 of 10	13
1980s	86	9 of 10	10
1990s	76	10 of 10	8
2000s	53	8 of 10	7
2010s	68	9 of 10	8
2020s	20	3 of 10	7

Across Norway · Boys, the 1970s were its busiest decade, averaging 13 births a year.

See the names Norwayhas recorded the most births with →

Ben appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 7 registrars between 1950 and 2025, ranked in 72 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #6, first reached in 2004.

It held a top-100 place in 50 years, 50 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 3,190 births, registered in England and Wales in 2002.

1 registrar ranked it inside their own top 10.

Its record falls into 5 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 1 year.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1976, and 74 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Ben was ranked #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys in 2004. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Bellatrix · #2170, 14y
Belle · #179, 30y
Benaiah · #1226, 20y
Benas · #253, 22y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 7 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Nicholas · #6, 73y
Joseph · #7, 75y
Louise · #5, 77y
Oscar · #7, 75y

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1950 and 1959.

Belinda · #6, 66y
Craig · #6, 73y
Debra · #6, 58y
Elaine · #6, 69y

Comparisons involving Ben

Existing comparison pages where Ben and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Ben in the same published list across at least 25 years.

Ben vs Mohammed
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #36 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #487 and #20.
Ben · Mohammed · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Charlie vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #487.
Charlie · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Jacob vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #487.
Jacob · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Ben within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Ben vs Richard
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ben and Richard averaged 10.9 places apart, ending at #91 and #98.
Ben · Richard · 22 shared years, 1976–1997 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1997 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Adrian vs Ben
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Ben averaged 11.0 places apart, ending at #92 and #80.
Adrian · Ben · 25 shared years, 1976–2003 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2003 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Ben vs Jamie
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Ben and Jamie averaged 11.4 places apart, ending at #125 and #118.
Ben · Jamie · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Ben and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Jordan vs Ben
In 2002, Ben moved ahead of Jordan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #17 and #21 the year before became #32 and #8.
Jordan · Ben · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2002 Northern Ireland ranking
Mark vs Ben
In 2002, Ben moved ahead of Mark in Northern Ireland · Boys — #19 and #21 the year before became #24 and #8.
Mark · Ben · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2002 Northern Ireland ranking
Theo vs Ben
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Theo moved into the top 50 at #18 in 2018 as Ben fell out of it to #64, having been #38 the year before.
Theo · Ben · 23 shared years, 2001–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2018 Northern Ireland ranking

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Pairs involving Ben measured in Northern Ireland's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Ben at its highest position.

Ben vs Dylan
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Ben and Dylan averaged 12.3 places apart, ending at #125 and #154.
Ben · Dylan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking
Ben vs Callum
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Ben and Callum averaged 12.9 places apart, ending at #125 and #54.
Ben · Callum · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 Northern Ireland ranking
Arthur vs Ben
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Arthur moved into the top 50 at #21 in 2018 as Ben fell out of it to #64, having been #38 the year before.
Arthur · Ben · 20 shared years, 2004–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2018 Northern Ireland ranking

Northern Ireland overview→

Ben and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Ben without appearing here.

Ben moved ahead of

Shea
In 1995 they stood at #283 and #283 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 1996 that had become #74 and #369.
Ronny
In 2003 they stood at #525 and #511 in Norway · Boys; by 2004 that had become #348 and #580.
Oisin Compare
In 2017 they stood at #32 and #11 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2018 that had become #29 and #247.
Odd
In 2022 they stood at #440 and #349 in Norway · Boys; by 2023 that had become #355 and #524.

Moved ahead of Ben

Theodor
In 1991 they stood at #311 and #342 in Norway · Boys; by 1992 that had become #583 and #301.
Sander
In 1989 they stood at #267 and #340 in Norway · Boys; by 1990 that had become #481 and #225.
Aaron Compare
In 2005 they stood at #348 and #390 in Norway · Boys; by 2006 that had become #453 and #210.
Sondre
In 1973 they stood at #342 and #372 in Norway · Boys; by 1974 that had become #450 and #246.

Moved the opposite way to Ben

Adrian Compare
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 while Adrian went from #43 to #348.
Alan Compare
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 while Alan went from #11 to #232.
Andrew Compare
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 while Andrew went from #24 to #106.
Anthony Compare
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 while Anthony went from #15 to #135.

Moved the same way as Ben

Arthur Compare
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 and Arthur from #184 to #57.
Cian
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 and Cian from #109 to #33.
Cillian
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 and Cillian from #188 to #9.
Evan
Between 1978 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben went from #283 to #40 and Evan from #150 to #80.

Meaning & Origin

A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Hebrew/Germanic, short form

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Ben is officially recorded

7 official registrars have recorded Ben, between 1950 and 2025, in 72 of those 76 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
Norway	1950–2023	65	#233 in 1965
New South Wales, Australia	1976–2004	26	#41 in 1981
Republic of Ireland	1978–2025	47	#14 in 2005
New Zealand	1981–2011	31	#38 in 2002
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#21 in 2002
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	28	#6 in 2004
Scotland	2024	1	#121 in 2024

Its high point came 59 years earlier in Norway (1965) than in Scotland (2024).

Variants

No spelling variants or nicknames recorded yet.

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

BEN/ˈbɛn/

Syllables: 1
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Ben Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Ben in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNorwayNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Preview with a surname

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Ben

Ben at a glance

What stands out in Ben's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Ben across 6 official records

Ben by decade in Norway · Boys

Ben appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Ben

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Ben

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Ben and the names beside it

Ben moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Ben

Moved the opposite way to Ben

Moved the same way as Ben

Meaning & Origin

Where Ben is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Ben Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Ben at a glance

What stands out in Ben's record

Ben across 6 official records

Ben by decade in Norway · Boys

Ben appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Ben

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1950s

Comparisons involving Ben

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Ben and the names beside it

Ben moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Ben

Moved the opposite way to Ben

Moved the same way as Ben