Benjamin vs Douglas
Benjamin and Douglascompared 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 Douglas #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1984, Benjamin was ranked #10 and Douglas #71 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Benjamin was ranked #57 and Douglas #418 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Douglas #257 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #71 and Douglas #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Douglas #290 among boys in Scotland.
Benjamin and Douglas over time
Benjamin and Douglas appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Douglas in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Douglas 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Douglas changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #71 and #770.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Douglas were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #71 and #770.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Douglas in 6.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2003, Douglas #140 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #71, Douglas #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Douglas in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Douglas #218 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Douglas #257.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1965–1981
Benjamin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Douglas in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1980, Douglas #69 in 1965.
The order changed in 1969: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #81 and #77; by 1969 that had become #68 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Benjamin #6, Douglas #94.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1970–1984
Benjamin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Douglas in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #10 in 1984, Douglas #71 in 1984.
The order changed in 1971: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #96 and #85; by 1971 that had become #85 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Benjamin #10, Douglas #71.
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 | Douglas |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #257 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Douglas does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Douglas.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Douglas doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Douglas
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1981
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1981).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #257 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys