Namewise

Benjamin vs Diarmuid

Benjamin and Diarmuidcompared 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 2009, Benjamin was ranked #15 and Diarmuid #4527 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Diarmuid #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Diarmuid #272 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Benjamin and Diarmuid over time

Benjamin and Diarmuid appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Diarmuid 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.

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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1996, Benjamin moved ahead of Diarmuid in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #107 and #98 the year before became #88 and #91.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Benjamin and Diarmuid were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #83 and #272.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #6 in 2002, Diarmuid #1411 in 2002.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 19642025

    Benjamin held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Diarmuid in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Diarmuid #77 in 2002.

    The order changed in 1996: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #107 and #98; by 1996 that had become #88 and #91.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Diarmuid #272.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 19972024

    Benjamin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Diarmuid in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Diarmuid #143 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Diarmuid #404.

  • England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 19962009

    Benjamin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Diarmuid in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Diarmuid #1411 in 2002.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2009: Benjamin #15, Diarmuid #4527.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Benjamin, Diarmuid
FieldBenjaminDiarmuid
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly 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
OriginBiblical HebrewNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/Not yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #272 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Diarmuid does not have one recorded yet.
  • Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Diarmuid.
  • A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Diarmuid doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Benjamin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1970–2023

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1970–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

Diarmuid

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #109 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #77 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2002 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #272 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys