Ben (1)

Short form of BENJAMIN or BENEDICT. A notable bearer was Ben Jonson (1572-1637), an English poet and playwright.

BENJAMIN   male   English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Biblical
From the Hebrew name בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand". Benjamin in the Old Testament is the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. He was originally named בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-'oniy) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father (see Genesis 35:18).

As an English name, Benjamin came into general use after the Protestant Reformation. A famous bearer was Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), an American statesman, inventor, scientist and philosopher.
BENEDICT   male   English
From the Late Latin name Benedictus which meant "blessed". Saint Benedict was an Italian monk who founded the Benedictines in the 6th century. After his time the name was common among Christians, being used by 16 popes. In England it did not come into use until the 12th century, at which point it became very popular. This name was also borne by the American general Benedict Arnold (1741-1801), who defected to Britain during the American Revolution.
FULL FORMS
DUTCH: Benedictus, Benjamin
ENGLISH: Benedict, Benjamin, Bennett
GERMAN: Benedikt, Benjamin
EQUIVALENTS
ARABIC: Binyamin
BIBLICAL GREEK: Beniamin
BIBLICAL HEBREW: Binyamin
BIBLICAL LATIN: Beniamin
BIBLICAL: Benjamin
CZECH: Benedikt, Benjamín
DANISH: Bendt, Benjamin, Bent
DUTCH: Ben
ENGLISH: Ben, Benj, Benji, Benjy, Bennie, Benny
FINNISH: Pentti
FRENCH: Benjamin, Benoit
GALICIAN: Bieito
GERMAN: Ben
HAWAIIAN: Peni
HEBREW: Binyamin
HUNGARIAN: Bence, Benedek, Benjámin
ICELANDIC: Benedikt, Benjamín
ITALIAN: Benedetto, Beniamino, Benito, Bettino
LATE ROMAN: Benedictus
LATVIAN: Bendiks
LITHUANIAN: Benas, Benediktas, Benjaminas
MACEDONIAN: Venijamin
NORWEGIAN: Benjamin
OLD CHURCH SLAVIC: Veniaminu
POLISH: Benedykt
PORTUGUESE: Benedito, Benjamim, Bento
ROMANIAN: Beniamin
RUSSIAN: Benedikt, Veniamin, Venyamin
SLOVAK: Benjamín
SPANISH: Benito, Benjamín
SWEDISH: Bengt, Benjamin
TURKISH: Bünyamin
YIDDISH: Benesh
FEMININE FORMS
DANISH: Benedikte, Bente
DUTCH: Bente
FRENCH: Bénédicte, Benjamine, Benoite
GERMAN: Benedikta
ITALIAN: Benedetta, Bettina
LATE ROMAN: Benedicta
NORWEGIAN: Benedikte, Bente
POLISH: Benedykta
PORTUGUESE: Benedita
SPANISH: Benita
SWEDISH: Bengta
OTHER FORMS
ENGLISH: Benson