Benji is a short form of Benjamin, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "son of the right hand" or "favored son." It was popularized in recent times by the 1974 American film "Benji," about an orphaned mixed-breed dog named Benji who saves his owner from danger. The name has since been associated with pets, particularly dogs, but it is also a popular choice for human babies. Spelling variations include Benz and Benny.
The name Benji experienced a notable rise in popularity starting around 1974, peaking with 53 births that year and reaching an all-time high of 130 births in 2022. However, it seems to have declined again recently, with only 82 births recorded in 2021. Overall, there were a total of 2037 births named Benji between 1952 and 2023.