Allen vs Benjamin
Allen and Benjamincompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Allen was ranked #3256 and Benjamin #61 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Allen was ranked #720 and Benjamin #65 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Allen and Benjamin over time
Allen and Benjamin appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Allen in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Allen and Benjamin changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2010, ending at #720 and #65.
- Longest-running competitions
Allen and Benjamin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3256 and #61.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2010
Allen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Benjamin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Allen #127 in 1966, Benjamin #53 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Allen #720, Benjamin #65.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Allen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Benjamin in 30.
Highest recorded here: Allen #1079 in 2007, Benjamin #6 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Allen #3256, Benjamin #61.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Benjamin
Pairs where Benjamin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #395.
Benjamin · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Justin
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #139 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #83 and #402.
Benjamin · Justin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Einar
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Einar fell — from #345 and #27 in 1950 to #48 and #57 in 2025.
Benjamin · Einar · 61 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Allen | Benjamin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'son of the right hand', with the underlying literal sense being 'son of the south' (since 'right' indicated the southerly direction in the biblical east-facing orientation convention). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3256 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Allen does not have one recorded yet.
- Allen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Benjamin.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Allen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Allen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1960
Highest recorded position: #76 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1960).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3256 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Benjamin
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2023
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1970–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys