Benji
Benji is a fictional canine character created by Joe Camp. He has been the focus of several feature films and other media, beginning with the independently produced 1974 film of that title. Benji is a small, golden, mixed-breed dog with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Benji
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Benji is a fictional canine character created by Joe Camp. He has been the focus of several feature films and other media, beginning with the independently produced 1974 film of that title. Benji is a small, golden, mixed-breed dog with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Benji
The earliest SSA record of Benji as a baby boy name dates back to 1952, when 7 babies received it. 1975 was its biggest year on record, with 168 newborns named Benji — #622 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 32% of all recorded Benjis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,555 among baby boy names with 112 births, rising sharply (+41% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Benjis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Benji
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Benji. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Benji
Phonetically similar names — useful when Benji is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Benji
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About the name Benji
Benji is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1952 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Benji's peak popularity came in 1975 when it ranked #622. Use the chart and map above to compare Benji's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1975 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.