Ben vs Nathanael
Ben and Nathanaelcompared 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 2024, Ben was ranked #41 and Nathanael #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ben was ranked #121 and Nathanael #619 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ben was ranked #145 and Nathanael #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ben was ranked #487 and Nathanael #856 among boys in England and Wales.
Ben and Nathanael over time
Ben and Nathanael appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Ben held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nathanael in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Nathanael 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ben and Nathanael were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #487 and #856.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ben held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nathanael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ben #21 in 2002, Nathanael #398 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ben #487, Nathanael #856.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1993–2024
Ben held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nathanael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ben #27 in 2001, Nathanael #339 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ben #41, Nathanael #785.
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.
- Ben vs Mohammed
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #36 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #487 and #20.
Ben · Mohammed · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Charlie vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #487.
Charlie · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #487.
Jacob · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #487.
David · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ben | Nathanael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #40 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #856 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Nathanael does not have one recorded yet.
- Ben has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Nathanael.
- A meaning is recorded for Ben; Nathanael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 #487 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Nathanael
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #339 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2000–2023
Highest recorded position: #277 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 2000–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #856 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys