Benny

#4,352 for girls in 2025, 32 births · #840 for boys in 2025, 293 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1939 · 864 births
Debut · boys
5 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
48,500
since 1882

Benny over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Benny has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201938peak #172, 1939boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#4,35232#840293
2024#8,94611#888267
2023#10,3129#1,044209
2022#9,05611#1,044211
2021#13,4646#1,006217
2020#13,4536#1,144170
2019—#1,188161
2018—#1,244148
2017—#1,360131
2016—#1,421122
2015#16,4195#1,438118
2014#16,5135#1,272140
2013—#1,243142
2012—#1,293135
2011—#1,183149
2010—#1,179153
2009—#1,209149
2008—#1,165155
2007—#1,002193
2006—#963193
2005—#1,013167
2004—#934181
2003—#983161
2002—#859193
2001—#941165
2000—#835192
1999—#926158
1998—#847172
1997—#852166
1996—#802179
1995—#796182
1994—#858156
1993—#719207
1992—#723204
1991—#715201
1990—#712203
1989#8,7618#685211
1988—#678192
1987—#629211
1986—#613212
1985—#599213
1984—#582211
1983#10,2755#576214
1982—#500288
1981—#490292
1980#9,0956#491297
1979—#436339
1978#8,5626#446318
1977—#465300
1976#9,2845#464285
1975#9,0675#437325
1974—#424344
1973#6,0808#450303
1972#6,5587#424348
1971—#418370
1970#7,9955#415384
1969#5,9747#399397
1968#5,1478#386404
1967#5,4577#373398
1966—#348458
1965#4,8318#334514
1964#5,0088#320592
1963#5,2967#314637
1962#6,5785#279752
1961#4,8828#290719
1960#3,92011#282784
1959#3,61912#273845
1958#5,4086#262873
1957#4,5368#255873
1956—#245884
1955#3,09514#245822
1954#3,71810#233914
1953#4,2268#224897
1952#3,04013#223896
1951#4,3857#213926
1950#4,3157#215875
1949#3,8928#206969
1948#3,5939#1891,065
1947#3,7069#1911,061
1946#2,88012#1841,003
1945#2,74211#187822
1944#2,76211#181897
1943#2,69512#176960
1942#3,4448#180877
1941#3,2528#181835
1940#2,73710#178814
1939#3,7826#172864
1938#2,11315#179823
1937#1,84518#179760
1936#2,38612#181732
1935#2,43912#190678
1934#2,42412#187684
1933#2,8689#198595
1932#2,13015#210593
1931#2,58111#210601
1930#2,42513#237533
1929#2,19115#255483
1928#2,49713#265460
1927#2,85911#272429
1926#2,87211#286399
1925#2,48914#289394
1924#2,80912#279415
1923#3,6418#305346
1922#2,10918#339299
1921#5,0995#333316
1920#3,9577#362272
1919#3,8177#340275
1918—#342282
1917#3,3448#377223
1916—#396196
1915—#371210
1914—#395144
1913—#381122
1912—#41887
1911—#40450
1910—#37647
1909—#45331
1908—#38337
1907—#33141
1906—#38731
1905—#41027
1904—#51518
1903—#52717
1902—#61513
1901—#46617
1900—#40231
1899—#54813
1898—#48518
1897—#61512
1896—#51816
1895—#68510
1894—#7309
1893—#7059
1892—#7489
1891—#8416
1890—#8147
1889—#9745
1888—#9176
1887—#58310
1886—#51213
1885—#6419
1884—#9715
1883——
1882—#9435
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1882

The first year at least five boys were named Benny! It came in at #943, and was given to 5 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1882–1884, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.

Where Benny is popular in 1938

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedNHWashington: #206 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,681 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedIDMontana: #152 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 873 boysMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedMNIllinois: #238 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 3,003 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedWIMichigan: #249 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 3,164 boysMINew York: #228 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 3,269 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedRIOregon: #187 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,405 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedSDIowa: #206 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,005 boysIAIndiana: #187 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,687 boysINOhio: #228 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 3,101 boysOHPennsylvania: #299 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 5,080 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #151 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,047 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedUTColorado: #137 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 718 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedNEMissouri: #192 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,463 boysMOKentucky: #139 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 823 boysKYWest Virginia: #127 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 710 boysWVVirginia: #174 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,109 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedDEArizona: #68 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 245 boysAZNew Mexico: #54 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 236 boysNMKansas: #145 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 779 boysKSArkansas: #83 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 396 boysARTennessee: #137 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 789 boysTNNorth Carolina: #144 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 812 boysNCSouth Carolina: #204 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,492 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #118 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 586 boysOKLouisiana: #143 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 738 boysLAMississippi: #152 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 894 boysMSAlabama: #106 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 625 boysALGeorgia: #110 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 592 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Benny, so not publishedHITexas: #126 for boys · 96 births · 1 in 616 boysTXFlorida: #155 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 921 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. New Mexico#54 · 1 in 236
  2. Arizona#68 · 1 in 245
  3. Arkansas#83 · 1 in 396
  4. Alabama#106 · 1 in 625
  5. Georgia#110 · 1 in 592

Best ever in a state: #53 in New Mexico, 1944.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New Mexico#54241 in 236
Arizona#68201 in 245
Arkansas#83461 in 396
Alabama#106441 in 625
Georgia#110501 in 592
Oklahoma#118361 in 586
Texas#126961 in 616
West Virginia#127271 in 710
Colorado#137131 in 718
Tennessee#137341 in 789
Kentucky#139341 in 823
Louisiana#143291 in 738
North Carolina#144441 in 812
Kansas#145171 in 779
California#151451 in 1,047
Mississippi#152241 in 894
Montana#15251 in 873
Florida#155151 in 921
Virginia#174211 in 1,109
Indiana#187161 in 1,687
Oregon#18751 in 1,405
Missouri#192191 in 1,463
South Carolina#204131 in 1,492
Iowa#206101 in 2,005
Washington#20671 in 1,681
New York#228271 in 3,269
Ohio#228171 in 3,101
Illinois#238191 in 3,003
Michigan#249141 in 3,164
Pennsylvania#299151 in 5,080
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Benny
Momentum · boys
Rising
  • 48 spots since 2024 (#888 → #840)
  • 304 spots since 2020 (#1,144 → #840)
  • 598 spots since 2015 (#1,438 → #840)
  • Biggest jump: 330 spots in 1885 (#971 → #641)
  • Biggest drop: 334 spots in 1888 (#583 → #917)
Rise & fade · boys
57 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1882
  • Peaked 1939 at #172 (864 births)
  • Births halved by 1967, 28 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 125 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 125 yrs · run 1884–2004
Share of babies · boys
1 in 1,281
  • Highest: 1 in 1,281 boys born in 1939 were named Benny (0.08%)
  • Latest: 1 in 5,830 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
Era · boys
The 1940s
  • 19.2% of all boys named Benny (9,303) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s53#512 (1886)#792
1890s109#485 (1898)#669
1900s263#331 (1907)#449
1910s1,636#340 (1919)#380
1920s3,813#255 (1929)#299
1930s6,863#172 (1939)#194
1940s9,303#176 (1943)#185
1950s8,805#213 (1951)#239
1960s5,655#279 (1962)#333
1970s3,316#415 (1970)#438
1980s2,341#490 (1981)#584
1990s1,828#712 (1990)#795
2000s1,749#835 (2000)#990
2010s1,399#1,179 (2010)#1,282
2020s1,367#840 (2025)#994

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Benny in 1938

girls
#2,113
15 births · 1 in 73,564 girls
boys
#179
823 births · 1 in 1,348 boys

Top girls' names in 1938

  1. #1Mary56,225
  2. #2Barbara39,277
  3. #3Patricia27,560
  4. #4Betty25,506
  5. #5Shirley23,766
  6. #6Carol19,421
  7. #7Nancy18,951
  8. #8Dorothy16,358
  9. #9Margaret15,330
  10. #10Joan14,303
  11. #2,113Benny15

Top boys' names in 1938

  1. #1Robert62,271
  2. #2James59,102
  3. #3John50,517
  4. #4William42,433
  5. #5Richard34,385
  6. #6Charles31,151
  7. #7Donald26,677
  8. #8David22,994
  9. #9Thomas21,381
  10. #10Ronald20,295
  11. #179Benny823
More about 1938

girls

1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 73,564 of them was named Benny, which outranked 57.7% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Benny
  1. #2,021Wilmer16
  2. #2,021Zena16
  3. #2,021Zettie16
  4. #2,113Benny15
  5. #2,113Alena15
  6. #2,113Alfredia15
  7. #2,113Alvena15
  8. #2,225Adelene14
  9. #2,225Afton14
  10. #2,225Aldean14

Tied with 111 names at #2,113; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,209Danielle#2,940 → #731
  2. ↑ 833Lorelei#1,451 → #618
  3. ↑ 623Helaine#1,493 → #870
  4. ↑ 399Janine#1,330 → #931
  5. ↑ 392Imelda#1,282 → #890
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,261Noreta#964 → #2,225
  2. ↓ 513Norita#532 → #1,045
  3. ↓ 432Noretta#856 → #1,288
  4. ↓ 366Ferne#950 → #1,316
  5. ↓ 327Verdell#904 → #1,231

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 1,348 of them was named Benny, which outranked 95.6% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Benny
  1. #175Earnest827
  2. #175Luther827
  3. #178Hubert825
  4. #179Benny823
  5. #180Marshall819
  6. #181Lynn810
  7. #182Nelson795
Biggest movers since 1937
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,314Dion#2,197 → #883
  2. ↑ 448Tex#1,212 → #764
  3. ↑ 425Lonny#1,233 → #808
  4. ↑ 401Gonzalo#1,180 → #779
  5. ↑ 383Lance#722 → #339
Fallers
  1. ↓ 741Worth#1,000 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 528Estel#869 → #1,397
  3. ↓ 492Milburn#845 → #1,337
  4. ↓ 412Lonzo#835 → #1,247
  5. ↓ 405Joy#932 → #1,337

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1938 →