Ben vs Lewis
Ben and Lewiscompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ben was ranked #121 and Lewis #28 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ben was ranked #40 and Lewis #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2010, Ben was ranked #99 and Lewis #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ben was ranked #125 and Lewis #136 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ben was ranked #509 and Lewis #216 among boys in England and Wales.
Ben and Lewis over time
Ben and Lewis appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Ben held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lewis in 1.
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.
Ben reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Lewis in 1. 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Ben and Lewis averaged 24.9 places apart, ending at #125 and #136.
- Mirrored each other
Over 41 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ben rose about as far as Lewis fell — from #288 and #252 in 1980 to #40 and #432 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ben and Lewis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #40 and #432.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ben #21 in 2002, Lewis #10 in 2001.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #24 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #509 and #216.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1980–2025
Ben held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Lewis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ben #14 in 2005, Lewis #125 in 2017.
The order changed in 1983: Ben moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #288 and #252; by 1983 that had become #226 and #258.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ben #40, Lewis #432.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ben held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lewis in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ben #21 in 2002, Lewis #10 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ben #509, Lewis #216.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ben held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Lewis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ben #6 in 2004, Lewis #20 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ben #125, Lewis #136.
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 | Ben | Lewis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew/Germanic, short form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #40 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ben has a recorded origin (Hebrew/Germanic, short form); Lewis does not have one recorded yet.
- Ben has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Lewis.
- A meaning is recorded for Ben; Lewis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ben
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Lewis
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in England and Wales, in 2001 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys