Benjamin vs Caleb

Benjamin and Calebcompared 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.

Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Caleb #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #39 and Caleb #45 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Caleb #42 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #44 and Caleb #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Caleb #75 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Caleb #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Benjamin and Caleb over time

Benjamin and Caleb appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Caleb 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.

Benjamin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Caleb 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.

One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Caleb moved into the top 50 at #40 in 2011 as Benjamin fell out of it to #52, having been #40 the year before.
One moved ahead of the other
In 2011, Caleb moved ahead of Benjamin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #40 and #48 the year before became #52 and #40.
Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Caleb averaged 53.5 places apart, ending at #44 and #97.
Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Caleb rose about as far as Benjamin fell — from #37 and #192 in 1997 to #76 and #26 in 2024.
Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Caleb were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 42 years, from 1982 to 2023, ending at #39 and #45.

List by list

New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1982–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Caleb #12 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #39, Caleb #45.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Caleb #91 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Caleb #108.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Caleb #72 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Caleb #75.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Caleb in 14.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Caleb #20 in 2023.
The order changed in 2011: Caleb moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #40 and #48; by 2011 that had become #52 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Caleb #26.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Caleb in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #8 in 1997, Caleb #51 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #44, Caleb #97.

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
See the 2023 Republic of Ireland ranking
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
See the 2023 Northern Ireland ranking
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
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
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
See the 2025 Norway ranking

Other comparisons involving Caleb

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

Oliver vs Caleb
Oliver and Caleb both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Caleb · 42 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Alfie vs Caleb
Alfie and Caleb both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alfie · Caleb · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Archie vs Caleb
Archie and Caleb both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Archie · Caleb · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Arthur vs Caleb
Arthur and Caleb both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Arthur · Caleb · 34 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Benjamin, Caleb
Field	Benjamin	Caleb
Record type	Editorially researched profile	Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usage	male	male
Meaning	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).	Not yet recorded
Origin	Biblical Hebrew	Not yet recorded
Pronunciation	/ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/	Not yet recorded
Syllables	3	2
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, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025)	Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	90/100	Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	76/100	94/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Caleb.
A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Caleb doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

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

Caleb

Popularity journey

First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys