Benjamin
/ˈbɛn.dʒə.mɪn/noun
A masculine given name of Hebrew origin, traditionally understood as meaning “son of the right hand” or “son of the south.”
Did you know?In Genesis, Benjamin was originally named Ben-Oni, “son of my sorrow,” before Jacob renamed him Benjamin, transforming grief into a name of favor and strength.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Semitic
Proto-Semitic
y-m-n
“A root associated with the right side, right hand, or south, depending on cultural orientation.”
Iron Age
Hebrew
בִּנְיָמִין (Binyāmīn)
“Benjamin; traditionally analyzed as ben, “son,” plus yāmīn, “right hand” or “south.””
6th–5th Century BCE
Biblical Hebrew
בִּנְיָמִן
“The personal name of Jacob’s youngest son and the ancestor-name of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin.”
Greek Antiquity
Septuagint Greek
Βενιαμίν (Beniamín)
“Benjamin, the Greek biblical rendering of the Hebrew name.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
Benjamin
“Benjamin, adopted from Greek in Christian biblical and ecclesiastical usage.”
Middle English
English
Beniamin / Benjamin
“A biblical personal name, later standardized in English as Benjamin.”
Modern English
English
Benjamin
“A masculine given name; in American slang, also a hundred-dollar bill, from Benjamin Franklin’s portrait.”