Benjamin vs Christopher
Benjamin and Christophercompared 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 2012, Benjamin was ranked #15 and Christopher #99 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Benjamin was ranked #20 and Christopher #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Christopher #311 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Christopher #204 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Christopher #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Christopher #127 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Christopher #121 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Christopher over time
Benjamin and Christopher appear together in 6 published lists, across 269 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Christopher 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.
Christopher reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Benjamin 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Benjamin moved ahead of Christopher in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #8 and #7 the year before became #6 and #13.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Christopher changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1965 and 2014, ending at #20 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Christopher averaged 24.8 places apart, ending at #20 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Christopher were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 48 years, from 1965 to 2014, ending at #20 and #94.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Christopher in 45.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Christopher #13 in 1990.
The order changed in 2012: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #74 and #69; by 2012 that had become #68 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Christopher #121.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1950–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Christopher in 26.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Christopher #54 in 1987.
The order changed in 1991: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #73 and #66; by 1991 that had become #70 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Christopher #311.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys48 shared years, 1965–2014
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Christopher in 20.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Christopher #2 in 1985.
The order changed in 1994: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1994 that had become #6 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Benjamin #20, Christopher #94.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2012
Benjamin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Christopher in 20.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Christopher #4 in 1984.
The order changed in 1990: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #9 and #8; by 1990 that had become #7 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Benjamin #15, Christopher #99.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Christopher in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Christopher #25 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Christopher #204.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Christopher in 6.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Christopher #10 in 1998.
The order changed in 2006: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #28 and #26; by 2006 that had become #33 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Christopher #239.
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 | Benjamin | Christopher |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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). | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 58/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Benjamin and Christopher both have 3 syllables.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Christopher'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
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
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys