Andrew vs Benjamin
Andrew 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Benjamin #14 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Benjamin #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Benjamin #29 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Benjamin #61 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Benjamin #76 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Benjamin #78 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Benjamin #83 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Andrew and Benjamin over time
Andrew and Benjamin appear together in 6 published lists, across 254 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Andrew in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Benjamin in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Benjamin moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2008 as Andrew fell out of it to #80, having been #33 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Benjamin moved ahead of Andrew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #5 and #6 the year before became #7 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Benjamin changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Benjamin averaged 23.6 places apart, ending at #89 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Benjamin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 48 years, from 1965 to 2016, ending at #89 and #17.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Benjamin in 10.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Benjamin #50 in 2020.
The order changed in 2020: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #68 and #75; by 2020 that had become #93 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Benjamin #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys48 shared years, 1965–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Benjamin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Benjamin #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 1988: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #5 and #6; by 1988 that had become #7 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Benjamin #17.
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1950–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Benjamin in 35.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #219 in 1962, Benjamin #13 in 2016.
The order changed in 1975: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #271 and #343; by 1975 that had become #341 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Benjamin #29.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Benjamin in 23.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Benjamin #3 in 2003.
The order changed in 1989: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #6 and #9; by 1989 that had become #10 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Benjamin #14.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Benjamin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Benjamin #6 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Benjamin #61.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Benjamin in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Benjamin #22 in 2002.
The order changed in 2008: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #33 and #56; by 2008 that had become #80 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Benjamin #76.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Andrew | Benjamin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | 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 | Greek, biblical | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Benjamin is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Benjamin.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Benjamin's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #46 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys