What Does My Name Benjamin Mean?

A very popular male first name and it means, "son of the right hand; son of the south; son of my old age." Benjamin was the 12th, youngest and most beloved son of the patriarch Jacob and Rachel. In the Middle Ages, it was often given to sons whose mothers had died in childbirth, though it has no such connotations today.

Ben is the short form; Benjie, Bennie, and Benny are pet forms. Variant forms of Benjamin are Ben, Benejamen, Beniamino, Benjaman, Benjamen, Benjamino, Benjamon, Benjee, Benjey, Benji, Benjie, Benjiman, Benjimen, Benjy, Benn, Bennie, Benno etc.

Famous bearers of this name are 19th century British statesman Benjamin Disraeli. Dustin Hoffman's character in the 1967 movie, 'The Graduate. Other renowned personalities include, Diplomat and inventor Benjamin Franklin; US President Benjamin Harrison; jazz musician Benny Goodman; pediatrician and oracle Benjamin Spock; British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli; actor Benjamin Bratt.

The word 'Benjamin' is used both as a last name and as a first name and in both forms the word is quite popular. The word can trace its origin in Hebrew and the meaning that you can figure out from the word is that of the 'son of the right hand; son of my old age; son of the south'. In Biblical context the name can be attributed to the youngest and twelfth son of Jacob and Rachel and originally the son was named as Benoni but later it changed into Benjamin.
     
The name was being popularised during the period of middle ages but in that period the name was being given to those children whose mother had lost their lives during childbirth, though nothing relevant to this phenomenon is found in any text.

The name Benjamin is taken from the Hebrew name "Binyamin" the name means "Son of Right", this name is also in general stands for "Son of my Right Hand". However in many rabbinical traditions, the name stands for "Son of the Right Side of the Body" or as the "Son of the South".  Some of the famous people who have their name as Benjamin are; 'Benjamin Agosto', Judah P. Benjamin and Pope Benjamin II of Alexandria.

The name Benjamin was also the name of Jacob and Rachel's son. He was born on the road which lied between Bethel and Ephrath; this is now identified as Bethlehem. Benjamin's mother passed away as the result of child birth.

Benjamin means son f my right hand meaning my favorite son