Benjamin vs Colman
Benjamin and Colmancompared 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 Colman #4789 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #71 and Colman #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Colman over time
Benjamin and Colman appear together in 1 published list, across 48 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Colman 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.
Colman reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Benjamin 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Benjamin moved ahead of Colman in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #222 and #213 the year before became #176 and #239.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Colman changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #71 and #770.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Colman were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 48 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #71 and #770.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys48 shared years, 1964–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Colman in 11.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Colman #125 in 1964.
The order changed in 1981: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #222 and #213; by 1981 that had become #176 and #239.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #71, Colman #770.
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 | Colman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #770 (2023) |
| 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); Colman does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Colman.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Colman 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
Colman
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #125 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023.
Republic of Ireland · Boys