How to say it
BEN · son
/ˈbɛn.sən/
Masculine
Benson
Son of Benedict
What it means
An English surname, 'son of Benedict' (or Ben), with Benedict meaning 'blessed' in Latin.
Benson is an English surname meaning 'son of Benedict,' the Latin name for 'blessed,' sometimes also read as 'son of Ben.' It rides the same -son surname-first wave as Mason and Carson, with the bonus that it delivers the friendly shorts Ben and Benny. It reads sturdy and a little preppy. The 1980s sitcom Benson is the older cultural touchpoint.
Popularity over time
peaked at #279 in 2025, currently #279 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Hands you Ben or Benny without committing to Benjamin or Benedict.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Benson the title butler-turned-statesman of the 1980s sitcom
Spelling variants
- Bensen
- Benston
Names with the same feeling
See Benson from another angle
By style