Benaiah
How to say it: beh-NYE-uh · /bɛˈnaɪə/
From Hebrew meaning 'Yahweh has built' - biblical warrior and priest under King David.
Benaiah was the 1,035th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 176 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 44% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #994 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,035 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 176 |
| Share of births | 1 in 18,837 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +44% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #994 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Rooted in ancient text but new in broad use, Benaiah climbed sharply lately. The 2020s show its strongest standing with more rise foreseen.
What goes with it
Strong with both soft and crisp edges and a biblical theme, Benaiah feels solid and reverent. Ben offers a familiar short form and Ezra pairs nicely.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Benaiah is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
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