Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Benton

    A boy’s name from English meaning “bean”, “bentgrass”, “enclosure”.

    Pronounced /ˈbɛn.tən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Benton means “bean”, “bentgrass”, “enclosure” in English.

    From either Old English bēan (“bean”) or *beonet (“bentgrass”) + tūn (“enclosure; settlement, town”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Benton last appeared in the official list in 2016, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 1997, with 9 births (#1,345).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    33
    babies named Benton, 1996–2025
    #4,023
    rank in 2016
    1997
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Benton with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Benton at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 104 boys born in the United States were named Benton, the 1,623rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 278 were.

    0150300 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    10,421
    babies named Benton since 1880
    #1,623
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Benton

    4 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Benton MacKaye
      American forester (1879-1975)
    • Benton McMillin
      American politician (1845-1933)
    • P. B. S. Pinchback
      American politician (1837–1921)
    • Ben Alexander
      American actor (1911–1969)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Benton mean?
    Benton means “bean”, “bentgrass”, “enclosure” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Benton?
    From either Old English bēan (“bean”) or *beonet (“bentgrass”) + tūn (“enclosure; settlement, town”).
    How popular is the name Benton?
    In 2016, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Benton, ranking 4,023rd. Its peak was 1997, with 9 births.
    Is Benton a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 10,421 US babies named Benton since 1880 were boys.
    When was Benton most popular?
    2016 in the United States, when 278 babies were named Benton, its highest rank at 821st.
    How do you pronounce Benton?
    Benton is /ˈbɛn.tən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Benton also a surname?
    Yes. Benton is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.