Benjamin vs Dale
Benjamin and Dalecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Benjamin was ranked #7 and Dale #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Benjamin was ranked #55 and Dale #358 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Dale #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Benjamin was ranked #81 and Dale #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Dale over time
Benjamin and Dale appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dale 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.
Dale reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1968, Benjamin moved ahead of Dale in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #100 and #87 the year before became #81 and #92.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Dale changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1968 and 2022, ending at #81 and #657.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Dale were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1968 to 2022, ending at #81 and #657.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #5 in 1988, Dale #75 in 1988.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1968–2022
Benjamin held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Dale in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2002, Dale #89 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Benjamin #81, Dale #657.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Dale in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Dale #117 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Dale #2671.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1965–1991
Benjamin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Dale in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1988, Dale #75 in 1988.
The order changed in 1968: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #100 and #87; by 1968 that had become #81 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Benjamin #7, Dale #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2016
Benjamin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Dale in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Dale #111 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Benjamin #55, Dale #358.
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 | Dale |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Dale does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Dale.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Dale doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Dale
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1991
Highest recorded position: #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1988 (recorded 1957–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys