As a nickname, Ben is usually formed by the abbreviation of a couple of full names. In particular, Benjamin is of ancient Hebrew descent and means ‘son of the right hand.’ Benedict — formed from the Latin ‘Benedictus,’ which means ‘blessed’ — is another prime candidate for the abbreviation to Ben.
Looking at U.S. statistics we can see that Ben is a name of declining popularity. In the 1880s, it was ranked as one of the 10 most popular names, but as of 2020, it holds 770th place. However, given that it holds a shining seventh place in Germany and a respectable 32nd place in Ireland not all looks bleak for Ben. As expected, Ben is also quite a popular name in Israel.
The term “Benjamin of the family” is often used in many cultures to signify the youngest in the family. This, of course, is derived from the biblical son of Jacob. Perhaps one of the most famous Bens is the founding father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin.
Tanja's Little Corner of The World 