Benjamin

== English == === Etymology === From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right/south or son of days”). Authorities differ on the meaning of the original Hebrew. Philo of Alexandria, the Samaritan Pentateuch The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs and Midrash Leḳaḥ-Ṭob understand יָמִין to mean "days" (a meaning attested in Daniel 12:13) understanding the name to mean "son of days (i.e. old age)" (compare to the direct translations into Arabic بِنْ يَومِين (bin yawmīn) "son of the days" and Arabic بِنْ يَمِين (bin yamīn) "son of the right hand"), a formula paraphrased in Genesis 40:22 where Benjamin is described as a child of Jacob's old age. Rashi in his commentary on Genesis also gives this as a possible meaning but favors an understanding of יָמִין to mean "right" in the sense of "the south", noting that Benjamin was the only son of Jacob born in the south. Jerome understood the name to mean "son of the right hand" and Gesenius speculated that this expression might have meant "son of good fortune". === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈbɛnd͡ʒəmɪn/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈbɛnd͡ʒəmɪn/, /ˈbɛnd͡ʒɚmɪn/ (US, pin–pen merger) IPA(key): /ˈbɪnd͡ʒəmɪn/, /ˈbɪnd͡ʒɚmɪn/ (Canada) IPA(key): /ˈbɛnd͡ʒəmɪn/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈbend͡ʒəmɪn/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈbend͡ʒəmən/ Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min === Proper noun === Benjamin (countable and uncountable, plural Benjamins) (biblical) The youngest of the sons of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible. : And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. A male given name from Hebrew of biblical origin. A small city, the county seat of Knox County, Texas, United States. A patrilineal surname transferred from the given name. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== Jamin === Noun === Benjamin (plural Benjamins) (US slang, often in the plural) A $100 bill, which bears a portrait of Benjamin Franklin. Synonyms: Ben, Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Franklin ==== Usage notes ==== Often used in the plural form to indicate large sums of money. ==== Alternative forms ==== benjamin ==== See also ==== dead president, Washington, Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson Robert Borden === Related terms === pet forms: Ben, Benji, Benjy, Benny === Further reading === Benjamin (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia == Cebuano == === Etymology === From English Benjamin, from Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right [hand]”). Also from Spanish Benjamín. === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min === Proper noun === Benjamin a male given name from English or Spanish (biblical) Benjamin the tribe of Benjamin == Danish == === Proper noun === Benjamin Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name ==== Related terms ==== Benny == Dutch == === Etymology === From Middle Dutch benjamin, from Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right/south or son of days”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛn.jaːˌmɪn/ Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min === Proper noun === Benjamin m Benjamin (Biblical character, mythological son of Jacob) (derived from meaning 1) The youngest child of a family, the youngest person of a group. a male given name == Faroese == === Etymology === From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn, literally “son of the right [hand]”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈpɛn.ja.ˌmin/ === Proper noun === Benjamin m (biblical) Benjamin a male given name ==== Usage notes ==== Patronymics son of Benjamin: Benjaminsson daughter of Benjamin: Benjaminsdóttir ==== Declension ==== == Finnish == === Etymology === From Late Latin Benjamin, from Ancient Greek Βενιαμίν (Beniamín), from Biblical Hebrew בִּנְיָמִין (binyamīn). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbenjɑmin/, [ˈbe̞njɑ̝min] Rhymes: -enjɑmin Syllabification(key): Ben‧ja‧min Hyphenation(key): Ben‧ja‧min === Proper noun === Benjamin Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== (given names) Benjam, Benjami, Jami (surnames) Pennanen === Proper noun === Benjamin genitive singular of Benjam ==== Statistics ==== Benjamin is the 144th most common male given name in Finland, belonging to 4,426 male individuals (and as a middle name to 8,571 more), and also belongs to 8 female individuals (and as a middle name to 7 more), according to August 2025 data from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland. == French == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /bɛ̃.ʒa.mɛ̃/ === Proper noun === Benjamin m (biblical) Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name == German == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛnjaˌmiːn/, /-ˌmɪn/ Hyphenation: Ben‧ja‧min === Proper noun === Benjamin m (proper noun, strong, genitive Benjamins) Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name === Noun === Benjamin m (strong, genitive Benjamins, plural Benjamine) youngest child ==== Related terms ==== Ben Benni === Further reading === “Benjamin” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “Benjamin” in Duden online == Latin == === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈbɛn.ja.mɪn] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈbɛn.ja.min] === Proper noun === Benjamin m (indeclinable) alternative form of Beniamin == Manx == === Proper noun === Benjamin m a male given name === Mutation === == Norwegian == === Proper noun === Benjamin Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name == Swedish == === Proper noun === Benjamin c (genitive Benjamins) Benjamin (Biblical figure) a male given name ==== Related terms ==== Benny