Namewise

Ben vs Domhnall

Ben and Domhnallcompared 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Ben was ranked #40 and Domhnall #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Ben was ranked #121 and Domhnall #727 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Ben was ranked #125 and Domhnall #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Ben and Domhnall over time

Ben and Domhnall appear together in 2 published lists, across 49 years of shared records. Ben held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Domhnall in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Domhnall reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ben 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1986, Ben moved ahead of Domhnall in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #185 and #185 the year before became #162 and #230.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ben and Domhnall changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1978 and 2025, ending at #40 and #577.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 40 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben rose about as far as Domhnall fell — from #283 and #283 in 1978 to #40 and #577 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ben and Domhnall were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1978 to 2025, ending at #40 and #577.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1978–2025

    Ben held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Domhnall in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Ben #14 in 2005, Domhnall #185 in 1985.

    The order changed in 1986: Ben moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #185 and #185; by 1986 that had become #162 and #230.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ben #40, Domhnall #577.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2024

    Ben held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Domhnall in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ben #20 in 2000, Domhnall #199 in 1999.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ben #125, Domhnall #278.

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 Ben

Pairs where Ben shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ben, Domhnall
FieldBenDomhnall
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard.Not yet recorded
OriginHebrew/Germanic, short formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈbɛn/Not yet recorded
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #40 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Ben has a recorded origin (Hebrew/Germanic, short form); Domhnall does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ben has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Domhnall.
  • A meaning is recorded for Ben; Domhnall doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Ben

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1950

    First recorded at #376 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #487 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Domhnall

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1966

    First recorded at #256 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1966–2025

    Highest recorded position: #185 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys