Name meaning & stats
Ben
Ben (English origin). 47,063 US babies since 1940, peak 1962. Notable Bens are 1.8× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
English
A short form of Benjamin.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1962
47,063 US babies were named Ben between 1940 and 2025. Ben is often a nickname, so many people called Ben are registered under a longer name.
Where Bens end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.8× | High · 189 people |
| Actor | 1.4× | High · 126 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 1.0× | High · 93 people |
| Politician | 0.8× | High · 93 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Bens show up 1.8× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Ben has a surprise career: 4.1×
Spelling family
Ben is the main spelling
- Ben 99%
- Benn 1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1962)