Given name
Binyamin
“son of the right hand”·“son of the south”
In Jewish use, Binyamin is a form of Benjamin. Two leading interpretations are “son of the right hand” and “son of the south.” The Hebrew element yamin can refer to either the right side or the south.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Jewish use, Binyamin is a form of Benjamin. Two leading interpretations are “son of the right hand” and “son of the south.” The Hebrew element yamin can refer to either the right side or the south.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Jewish use, Binyamin is a form of Benjamin. Benjamin comes from Hebrew Benyamin and has established use in English, French, and German as well as Jewish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Jewish use, Binyamin is used as a form of Benjamin. In Jewish use, Binyamin is a form of Benjamin. The shared background comes through Benjamin: Benjamin combines the idea of a son with yamin. A different traditional explanation links the second element with years, giving the sense “son of my old age”; it is an alternative interpretation, not a settled translation.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1978. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Jewish use, Binyamin is a form of Benjamin. The history of Benjamin gives this family its wider story. In Genesis, Benjamin is Jacob’s youngest son. Rachel first names him Benoni, and Jacob changes the name to Benyamin. This family story is central to the name’s biblical associations.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Binyamin through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,087
- 1,087 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 63 babies
- 2025
- 53
- #2,520 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +25%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 53 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,520 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 25.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 744 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Binyamin’s family of names
Binyamin has a related form in Benjamin. Binyamin is a form of Benjamin.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Veniaminequivalent
- Beniaminequivalent
- Binjaminequivalent
- Вениаминequivalent
- Beniaminoequivalent
- Benjaminasequivalent
- Benjamíequivalent
- Bünyaminequivalent
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People named Binyamin
- Binyamin Ben-EliezerIraqI-Israeli military officer and politician (1936-2016)
- Benjamin MazarIsraeli historian and biblical archaeologist (1906-1995)
- Binyamin ElonIsraeli rabbi and politician (1954-2017)
- Benjamin Z. KedarIsraeli historianborn 1938
- Binyamin MintzIsraeli politician (1903-1961)
- Binyamin AvnielIsraeli politician (1906-1993)
- Binyamin GibliIsraeli intelligence officer (1919–2008)
- Binyamin SassonIsraeli politician1903–1989
- Binyamin ShahorIsraeli politician (1916–1979)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Binyamin, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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