How Many People Are Named Benjamin?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Benjamin

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 4,469 living people in the United States currently have the first name Benjamin. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 10,287 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #229 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~4,469CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)10,287Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#229U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1939 (191 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~4,469
Historical Births (SSA)
10,287
All-Time Rank
#229
Historical Peak
1939

Key Insights for Benjamin

Estimated Living Bearers
~4,469 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#229
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1939
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
95% Male · 5% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~559 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Benjamin

Living Population Model
~4,469

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
10,287

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
7,453

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
50.4 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1939

Highest annual total: 191 registrations in 1939.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (+0%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Benjamin has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Benjamin (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1939 (~191 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201056560
201156560
201256560
201356560
201456560
201556560
201656560
201756560
201856560
201956560
202056560
202156560
202256560
202356560
202456560

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
98/100
1950s
74/100
1960s
42/100
1970s
18/100
1980s
7/100
1990s
4/100
2000s
30/100
2010s
30/100
2020s
15/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Benjamin is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95% male births).

Male: 95% (~9,774 births)Female: 5% (~513 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Benjamin

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Benjamin in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Benjamin appeared 7,453 times, ranking #41 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
7,453 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#41
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Benjamin Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~559 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~55912.5%
Texas (TX)~4119.2%
Florida (FL)~3046.8%
New York (NY)~2736.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~1794%
Illinois (IL)~1743.9%
Ohio (OH)~1613.6%
Georgia (GA)~1473.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 4,469 people named Benjamin are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 50.4 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Benjamin: 50.4 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Head-to-Head Comparisons for Benjamin

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Frequently Asked Questions About Benjamin

How many people in the U.S. are named Benjamin?

Approximately 4,469 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Benjamin. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 10,287 birth applications for Benjamin between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Benjamin?

Benjamin ranks #229 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Benjamin comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Benjamin most popular in America?

The name Benjamin reached its peak historical popularity in 1939, when 191 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Benjamin?

Benjamin has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Benjamin?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Benjamin is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95% male births).

Where is the name Benjamin most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Benjamin resides in California, with approximately 559 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Benjamin in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Benjamin appeared 7,453 times in census returns, ranking #41 in official 2020 returns.

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