One week ago, I asked my readers to vote on which three of the top ten names for each gender are their personal favorites. After one week of voting, I took the three most requested boy names and the three most requested girl names and wrote a profile on every single one, including not only my predictions for the name selected, but also my opinions on the name, the origins of the name, and the extent of time the name has claimed a spot in the esteemed top ten. These profiles of the reader-decided top three will slowly be released over the course of the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for more!
Following our third place boy and girl names, we’re taking a step up the podium to analyze our second place winners: one of which is the classic, timeless Benjamin. Benjamin rose from the U.S. #6 to my reader decided #2, both stations a far cry from this enduring appellation’s lesser popularity worldwide. At #35 in England and #71 in Scotland, Benjamin’s popularity doesn’t seem to have caught on quite yet in Europe.
Despite his subordinate popularity in other nations, Benjamin’s many appealing qualities do speak to expecting American parents enough to land himself a spot in the top ten. For one, Benjamin has a timeless and ageless attribute that appeals to many. Benjamin seems like a suitable name for a teenager or an adult, and Benjamin, unlike Jennifer, Harper, or Gertrude, doesn’t speak to one given generation. Besides this favorable characteristic, there are nicknames aplenty. Similar to Evelyn, Benjamin has many nicknames, but one dominant short form. Benji, Benny, even Mini or Jammie as a pet name are some of the many nicknames for this lengthy moniker, but the one everyone seems to use is Ben. In times where Bennett, Benedict, Benton and other Ben names are rising, it's not surprising that this Benjamin nickname could be what’s boosting Benjamin’s intense popularity. Not only is Benjamin outwardly appealing, the meaning and origins of this pleasant appellation are also notable. Benjamin is a Hebrew name meaning “son of the right hand”, which many interpret religiously, even before accounting for Benjamin’s biblical roots in the book of Genesis. Naming children based on spiritual values is nothing new, and Benjamin is no exception to this meaningful tradition.
After reviewing the basis of Benjamin’s widespread regard, we can track the pattern of his popularity to estimate where Benjamin will fit in the 2019 data. For three years, Benjamin has maintained #6 at a standstill, but hasn’t shown signs of moving dramatically up or down. #6 is Benjamin’s peak popularity, as of now, but will he top that? In order to answer that, I think we need to go back to Ben. As parents search for a more modern answer to classic Ben, I think we’ll see a large uptick in the popularity of Bennett, Benton, and some more contemporary options to the Ben nickname we are all crazy for. I think that a trend that Benjamin started will end up being what overtakes him in 2019. But, I think he has enough charming qualities to stay in the top ten for another year, even if he drops a couple ranks.
~Delphina Moon
How do you feel about the name Benjamin, and what do you think the upcoming 2019 data concerning Benjamin’s popularity will reveal about this gem of a name and the U.S. top ten?
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