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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on Ben?

80 replies

Ella28_ · 19/08/2022 21:41

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toastofthetown · 23/08/2022 22:30

SallyWD · 23/08/2022 22:00

Overused? Not these days! It's quite rare to hear of a baby Ben.

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Benjamin was the 40th most popular name in England and Wales in 2020, so far from rare.

And I totally agree with @pinklavenders that’s it’s not only your baby’s birth year to consider when thinking about popularity. Ben feels dull to me because there was at least one Ben in every classroom, more Bens at uni, more Bens at work. My husband had two Bens on his stag! After education age they’ll be in mixed age groups, so it doesn’t matter that they were the only Ben (for example) in their year group, because as soon as they hit work, they’ll be in meetings with two other Bens from the time Ben was very popular.

pinklavenders · 23/08/2022 22:17

Overused names don't refer to babies. It refers to names that are already very widely used and have become dull from overuse.

I know lots of teens and young adults called Ben. Just as I know lots of 40plus aged guys called Steve.

SallyWD · 23/08/2022 22:00

NoHomers · 23/08/2022 21:31

Overused. Dull.

Overused? Not these days! It's quite rare to hear of a baby Ben.

knackeredagain · 23/08/2022 21:39

I’ve never met a Ben I didn’t like. It suits all ages and fits my favourite category of boys names - a Sunday name and a nice short version. I love it!

NoHomers · 23/08/2022 21:31

Overused. Dull.

MarmaRell78 · 23/08/2022 21:28

This has become a very popular name - I know several little baby Bens

pinklavenders · 23/08/2022 21:26

I find it dull. Not very memorable

sageandbasil · 23/08/2022 21:24

I find it really boring sorry

MinglingFlamingo · 23/08/2022 21:22

I really like it! There were several in my class at school but now don't hear of many babies or young kids called Ben! I work in a secondary school and now I think about not many there either

Kim82 · 23/08/2022 21:12

I love it. I have a 21 year old Ben. His name is just Ben as I didn’t like any of the longer versions and it suits him perfectly.

DoNutSweatTheSmallStuff · 23/08/2022 21:05

It's fine, inoffensive.
It's quite popular where I am - I know 5 under 9.

Fluxcapacitator · 23/08/2022 20:58

Like Tim and Toby , it's a bit wet.

resm · 23/08/2022 20:50

Ben is a brilliant name! My teenage nephew is a Ben and it was just the cutest name when he was a baby and also suits him perfectly now. He is Benedict on his BC, but only goes by Ben.

azimuth299 · 23/08/2022 19:31

It's classic, possibly a bit dull. I do prefer Benedict to Benjamin though.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 20/08/2022 19:18

i like it

sunflowerdaisyrose · 20/08/2022 16:40

Love it, it's my favourite boy's name.

pinklavenders · 20/08/2022 15:34

Often the male love interest in chick lit.

Confused
Hobbesmanc · 20/08/2022 10:44

Ben. Matt. Jack. Luke. Good sturdy classless names. Often the male love interest in chick lit.

I really love Benji too.

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/08/2022 09:41

45hopperbunny · 19/08/2022 21:43

Grandad name.

Couldn’t imagine looking at a two week old baby and going ‘oh hi little Ben.’ It just doesn’t make sense to me. It’s along the lines of Victor - straight grandad name.

That’s just my opinion though

This is insane, the world is literally full of Bens in their 30s and 40s, and it would be a relatively rare name for those aged 70+

It’s still used now I think, nice if not exciting, Benedict a bit more interesting than Benjamin.

schnubbins · 20/08/2022 08:24

I have a 22 year old Benjamin always called Ben .He loves his name and it suits him perfectly.

AmberGer · 20/08/2022 08:20

Love it! Love Ben/Benjamin/Benny always been one of my favourite boys names

HairyToity · 20/08/2022 08:20

Love it. Universal, easy to pronounce and easy to spell.

pinklavenders · 20/08/2022 08:07

Ben is dull and boring. Like Dan or Steve.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 20/08/2022 07:51

Gorgeous and timeless. Not too popular so not loads in same school.

Walkingtheplank · 20/08/2022 07:50

There are 3 names that abbreviate to Ben that I really like but Ben itself I find really wet. Just about ok for a toddler, but not for older child or adult.