Benny
Say it: BEN-ee/ˈbɛni/
BoyMeans a pet form of Benjamin, which means "son of the right hand"5 letters2 syllables
#329
in Ireland (2025)
#319 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#308
best rank (2023)
69
babies since 2005
Benny through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #319 |
| 2024 | 9 | #379 |
| 2023 | 13 | #308 |
| 2022 | 9 | #393 |
| 2021 | 4 | #603 |
| 2020 | 4 | #606 |
| 2019 | 5 | #537 |
| 2018 | 4 | #597 |
| 2017 | 3 | #710 |
| 2016 | 3 | #713 |
| 2005 | 3 | #518 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Benny mean?
A pet form of Benjamin, which means "son of the right hand"
English, a pet form of Benjamin, and sometimes of Benedict or Bernard.
Say it right
BENee
The story of Benny
Benny began as a pet form of Benjamin, made by shortening the name and adding the friendly ending -y. Benjamin itself comes from Hebrew and is usually explained as “son of the right hand”. Benny has also been used for boys called Benedict, Bernard or Benson, and as a nickname for girls called Bernice or Bernadette.
It has a long history as a nickname and a stage name. The American jazz clarinettist Benny Goodman, born Benjamin, made it familiar in the twentieth century.
As a registered first name in Ireland, Benny is new. It first appears in the CSO records in 2005, and for years it was given to only a handful of boys. It picked up in the 2020s. Its best year was 2023, with 13 boys, and in 2025 there were 12.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Benny (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Benny
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences