"stone of help"
Eben
Pronunciation: [ EHB-uhn ]
A Biblical stone of strength — shorter and stronger than Ebenezer
Meaning & Origin
"helping stone, memorial stone"
Things to Know About This Name
- Shares sound with Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly character from A Christmas Carol
The Story of Eben
Eben is a shortened form of Ebenezer, from the Hebrew 'Eben ha-Ezer' (אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר), meaning 'stone of help.' In the Bible (1 Samuel 7:12), Samuel erected a stone and named it Ebenezer to commemorate God's help in defeating the Philistines. The name fell out of fashion after Dickens immortalized Ebenezer Scrooge in 1843, but the shortened Eben retains the original nobility.
Eben has never been broadly popular but has maintained steady use in Wales (where it has Celtic resonance) and in devout Christian communities who appreciate its Biblical depth. It's been quietly rediscovered by parents who want a short, strong Biblical name.
In Welsh culture, Eben feels natural due to Wales's strong nonconformist Christian tradition and the prevalence of Biblical names. The Ebenezer chapels across Wales reflect this heritage.
Fun Facts
- The word 'Ebenezer' gave us the word 'stone' in the phrase still used in some church names across Britain
- Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens' A Christmas Carol is the most famous fictional bearer of the root name
- In Welsh hymnody, 'Ebenezer' is a beloved hymn tune still sung in chapels today
Eben in Other Languages
Famous People Named Eben
Eben Upton
Engineer
1978
British engineer and co-creator of the Raspberry Pi, the single-board computer that revolutionized education in computin...
British engineer and co-creator of the Raspberry Pi, the single-board computer that revolutionized education in computing
Ebenezer Scrooge Fictional
Other
The reformed miser protagonist of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol; a cultural touchstone for redemption ...
The reformed miser protagonist of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol; a cultural touchstone for redemption and generosity
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,760
- Total SSA Count
- 47
- Cultural Origins
- Christian English Welsh
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Eben is also used as a girl name, ranked #33023.
View Eben as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Eben
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About the Name Eben
Eben is a boy name with Christian, English, and Welsh origins . The name means "stone of help" in Hebrew .
Is Eben a boy or girl name? Eben is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #2,760 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #33,023. Eben is more commonly used as a boy name.
Eben is currently ranked #2,760 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Eben has 2 syllables and is pronounced EHB-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Eben include Eb. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Eben include Ebenezer, Eber . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.