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Ben vs Ray

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ben

Boy #802 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"short form of Benjamin: son of the right hand"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Hebrew German Dutch American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#802
Total SSA Count
313
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Ray

Boy #777 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"wise protector"

Origin: Germanic

Cultural Roots

English American French

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#777
Total SSA Count
322
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

All Clear

Similar Names

Popularity Comparison

Ben Rank #802
Ray Rank #777

Ray is more popular, ranked #777 vs #802 for Ben.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ben or Ray more popular?

Ray is more popular, ranked #777 compared to Ben at #802 in the United States.

What do Ben and Ray mean?

Ben means "short form of Benjamin: son of the right hand" (Hebrew origin). Ray means "wise protector" (Germanic origin).

Are Ben and Ray boy or girl names?

Ben is primarily a boy name. Ray is primarily a boy name.

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