Benjamin vs Fergus
Benjamin and Ferguscompared 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 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Fergus #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #73 and Fergus #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Fergus #104 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Fergus #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Fergus over time
Benjamin and Fergus appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fergus 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.
Fergus 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 1985, Benjamin moved ahead of Fergus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #124 and #123 the year before became #121 and #148.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Fergus were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #83 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Fergus in 21.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2002, Fergus #66 in 1964.
The order changed in 1985: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #124 and #123; by 1985 that had become #121 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Fergus #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Fergus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Fergus #243 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Fergus #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Fergus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Fergus #199 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #73, Fergus #348.
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 | Fergus |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Fergus does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Fergus.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Fergus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Fergus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #66 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: #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys