The name Benjamin comes from a Hebrew name meaning "son of the right [hand] side" or "son of the south." The biblical Benjamin was the twelfth of Jacob's twelve sons and the founder of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin.

Benjamin has been a popular baby name in the U.S. for well over a century. It's currently the 20th most popular boy name.

• 2009 - 20th
• 2008 - 25th
• 2007 - 26th
• 2006 - 24th
• 2005 - 25th
• 2004 - 25th
• 2003 - 24th
• 2002 - 27th
• 2001 - 27th
• 2000 - 26th
• 1999 - 29th
• 1998 - 30th
• 1997 - 29th
• 1996 - 29th
• 1995 - 31st
• 1994 - 31st
• 1993 - 33th
• 1992 - 33th
• 1991 - 33th
• 1990 - 33th

Nicknames for Benjamin include Ben, Benny, Bennie, Benni, Benj, Benjy, Benji and Benjie. Feminine forms Benjamina and Benjamine exist, but are rarely used in the U.S. Forms of Benjamin in other cultures/languages include Binyamin (Hebrew), Beniamino (Italian) and Venyamin (Russian).

The most notable American namesake would have to be Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), one of the founding fathers of the United States. He was also an inventor and a philosopher. His likeness has been featured on the $100 bill since 1914. (Our $100 bills are commonly called "Benjamins" in reference to this fact.)

Other famous men named Benjamin include:

• Binyamin Metudela (12th century) - Spanish rabbi and explorer
• Benjamin II (14th century) - Coptic Pope of Alexandria
• Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) - two-time Prime Minister of the U.K.
• Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893) - English scholar, classicist and theologian
• Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) - 23rd U.S. President
• Benjamin Goodrich (1841-1888) - American industrialist in the rubber industry
• Benjamin Kubelsky (1894-1974) - American comedian and actor known as Jack Benny
• Benjamin Aaron (1915-2007) - American attorney and scholar
• Ben Bernanke (b. 1953) - Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve
• Benjamin McKenzie (b. 1978) - American actor

10,000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names Want more than the top 100 or top 1,000 baby boy names? Here's a complete list of the 10,000 most popular baby boy names in the nation! Click to learn more.