Meaning: Its source is Binyamin, a Hebrew name meaning "Right-hand son."

Nickname For: Benedict and Benjamin

Popularity: The name Bennie ranked 371st in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: Some favor the meaning ''son of my later years,'' and others ''southern son.''

In the Jewish scriptures, Benjamin and the other sons of Jacob and Rachel each gave their names to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. After the Exodus from Egypt, the Benjamites gained a reputation for ferocity in the battles for the conquest of Canaan.

In French the name is also a common noun and means The youngest one.

Meaning: Its source is a Latin expression meaning "Blessed."

Nickname For: Benedicta

Popularity: The name Bennie ranked 1063rd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.