Benjamin vs Cieran
Benjamin and Cierancompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2021, Benjamin was ranked #42 and Cieran #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Benjamin was ranked #68 and Cieran #701 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Cieran over time
Benjamin and Cieran appear together in 2 published lists, across 33 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cieran in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #6 in 2002, Cieran #479 in 2003.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 1996–2021
Benjamin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Cieran in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Cieran #479 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Benjamin #42, Cieran #4789.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1964–2009
Benjamin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Cieran in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #63 in 2008, Cieran #170 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Benjamin #68, Cieran #701.
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 | Cieran |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4789 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Cieran does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Cieran.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Cieran doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
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
Cieran
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2009
Highest recorded position: #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2009).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #4789 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Boys