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Baby names

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Original poster

Benjamin dated?

32 replies

amandalandmad · 03/06/2026 22:29

Is Benjamin dated? Just that really! Always loved it but now wondering if it’s dated!

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SkippitySkoppity · 06/06/2026 15:26

I'd expect an Arlo to be under 10. I'd have no idea whether a Benjamin would be 5, 55, or 85.

TheyGrewUp · 06/06/2026 10:16

It's a classic and always will be. All the classics have peaks.

30 years ago when DS went to reception, there were many: Bens, Sams, Jacks, Harrys.

Calliopespa · 06/06/2026 10:10

I think it is a classic, and I think the point of classics is they don't "date." It's true that they wax and wane in popularity, (often one or two generations of popularity and then one or two below the radar) but I think the mark of a classic is that it keeps coming round - and there are always a few here and there in the maternity wards.

To me it is the more unique names (ie; peculiar to that generation) that tend to date in the true sense.

It's a lovely name. I have to admit that having grown up with quite a few Bens - and a sprinkle in my dcs classes as well - I probably find Benji a bit fresher as a diminutive, and I do really love Benedict, despite the suggestions on here that it becomes Ben's a dick.

I feel as though John and Peter are ready for a resurgence, if you wanted something classic but which might feel like a fresher "disinterment."

I have dc still in prep and they do have Bens in their classes, so maybe it is on the way out, rather than on the way back in?

user293948849167 · 04/06/2026 23:32

No it’s one of my favourite boys names.
Ben and Benji are nice as nicknames too

Eggybreadwithnuts · 04/06/2026 23:20

Yes. Benji is modern

Firebird83 · 04/06/2026 23:18

It’s classic. I like Benjamin but not Ben.

cisisaslur · 04/06/2026 13:23

Beautiful, timeless name

csg376 · 04/06/2026 12:19

Timeless and classic. I love it, it’s strong but warm.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 04/06/2026 10:25

Nice name. Know 2 as adults not many as children.

Volpini · 04/06/2026 10:23

I’ve got an 11yo Benjamin. But he’s Ben, Benji, Benny… there are no other Bens in his year. This is a good thing, no?
It’s timeless.
(my daughter chose his name - she was going through a Peter Rabbit phase.)

NamingNoNames · 04/06/2026 10:15

Ben popularity since 1996. It was very popular in the 1990s and 2000s, so most of them will be 30ish but it's a classic name. Ben as a BC name is more dated if you look at Baby names since 1904: how has yours performed? - Office for National Statistics

I think it's fine.

ohtowinthelottery · 04/06/2026 09:07

Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit · 04/06/2026 00:57

Love this as I have a Ben but just did the maths - he’s 25 🤣
When he started school he asked a classmate his name - “Ben”. “You can’t be, I’m Ben”.

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@Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit I've got a 29 year old Ben. He was one of a number of Bens at school. They were all always known by their 1st name and surname blended as if it was all one name 😆

MalteserGeezee · 04/06/2026 09:00

Classic, timeless. We always get very excited when watching the birthdays on cbeebies and hear a classic name like James or Benjamin!

BuffaloCauliflower · 04/06/2026 08:58

Agree with others, it’s classic, could belong to any age, can also be Ben or Benji.

Bellybellas · 04/06/2026 08:56

Yes, it’s dated to the late 90s. I know loads of Bens aged 25-30

DrSpangle · 04/06/2026 07:22

You're right, you can't get more dated than thousands of years ago! 😂

Hippywannabe · 04/06/2026 07:17

Mine is 38 and when I had him, 5 out of the 8 women in the maternity ward had Ben's. 4 Benjamin's and a Benedict.
However, I work in a school and we only have one, it isn't a common name now, more of a classic.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 04/06/2026 07:08

I have a Benjamin and he’s at secondary school now and he’s always been the only one in his year so not crazy popular but classic….

BoleynMemories13 · 04/06/2026 06:52

There aren't as many babies around with this name as there were 15-30 years ago, when it was probably at it's peak. That doesn't mean it's 'dated' though. It's a timeless classic. I wouldn't be at all surprised to meet a baby Benjamin. I put it in the same bracket as James, Daniel, Samuel, Joseph, Adam etc. All currently nowhere near as popular as they once were, but all very much still in use, falling around 30-60ish in the current top 100.

DramaAlpaca · 04/06/2026 01:34

It's a perfectly nice Biblical, therefore classic, name. Underused these days but it'll never truly go out of fashion as it's the definition of a timeless name. It's too long for me as I like shorter names so wouldn't have used it, but I really like Ben.

ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 04/06/2026 01:15

Love it 🥰

Ithinkofawittyusernamethenforgetit · 04/06/2026 00:57

EconomyClassRockstar · 03/06/2026 22:34

It really is a classic and, also, every Ben/Benjamin I've ever known has been lovely. Except for one but he was only 5 and it was 20 years ago, so I'll let that one go.

Love this as I have a Ben but just did the maths - he’s 25 🤣
When he started school he asked a classmate his name - “Ben”. “You can’t be, I’m Ben”.

JoeSikoraTommysStory · 04/06/2026 00:14

Lovely name. Timeless 🫶🏻

Funkylights · 03/06/2026 23:50

Timeless

ACynicalDad · 03/06/2026 23:48

It was on my list but not my wife’s so didn’t get used but like it