Benjamin vs Damian
Benjamin and Damiancompared 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 1981, Benjamin was ranked #6 and Damian #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Damian #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Damian #339 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Damian #271 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Benjamin was ranked #71 and Damian #304 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Damian #432 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Damian #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Damian over time
Benjamin and Damian appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Damian 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.
Damian 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 1990, Benjamin moved ahead of Damian in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #136 and #108 the year before became #117 and #120.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Damian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #48 and #339.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Damian in 26.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Damian #46 in 1969.
The order changed in 1990: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #136 and #108; by 1990 that had become #117 and #120.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Damian #223.
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1973–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Damian in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Damian #149 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Damian #339.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Damian #253 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Damian #271.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2020
Benjamin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Damian #160 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Benjamin #71, Damian #304.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1969–1981
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Damian #64 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Benjamin #6, Damian #97.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1972–1985
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Damian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #8 in 1985, Damian #58 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Benjamin #8, Damian #87.
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 | Damian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Damian does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Damian.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Damian doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Damian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys