Benson is of Old French origin, derived from the house name 'Benison'. It means 'son of Bernard', with 'Bernard' itself originating from the Germanic elements 'bern' meaning 'bear' and 'hard' meaning 'strong, brave, hardy'. Benson was initially a surname before evolving into a given name. It gained popularity in the late 19th century and has been used steadily since.
The name Benson experienced a resurgence in popularity between 2015 and 2021, with twice as many births recorded in the latter year compared to six years prior. Overall, there were eleven babies named Benson born during this period.