benjamin

Benjamin is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives from the Hebrew Beni, meaning “son,” and Yamin, meaning “right hand” (or, by extension, “the south”), with the common interpretation “son of the right hand.” In the biblical narrative, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob renames him from Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow.” The Tribe of Benjamin, descended from him, was one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and occupied a compact territory between the tribes of Judah and Ephraim.

The name has been widely used across cultures and languages, especially in English, French, German, Spanish, and Nordic regions. It is commonly shortened to Ben or Benny, and some languages have local variants or pronunciation adjustments.

Notable people named Benjamin include Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), American polymath and statesman; Benjamin Netanyahu (born 1949), Israeli politician and prime minister; Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881), British prime minister; Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), the 23rd president of the United States; and Benjamin Britten (1913–1976), English composer. The name also appears in various fields and media, contributing to its continued use.

Beyond individuals, Benjamin also appears as a surname and in place names, and has appeared in literature and film as a fictional character such as Benjamin Button.