Benjamin vs Garry
Benjamin and Garrycompared 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 1974, Benjamin was ranked #18 and Garry #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2002, Benjamin was ranked #22 and Garry #281 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #53 and Garry #4991 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Benjamin was ranked #68 and Garry #701 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Garry #727 among boys in Scotland.
Benjamin and Garry over time
Benjamin and Garry appear together in 3 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Garry in 1.
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.
Garry 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 1990, Benjamin moved ahead of Garry in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #136 and #126 the year before became #117 and #131.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Garry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #68 and #701.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2009
Benjamin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Garry in 25.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2002, Garry #79 in 1980.
The order changed in 1990: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #136 and #126; by 1990 that had become #117 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Benjamin #68, Garry #701.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Garry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Garry #573 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #53, Garry #4991.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1965–1974
Benjamin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Garry in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #18 in 1974, Garry #40 in 1965.
The order changed in 1970: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #68 and #64; by 1970 that had become #52 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Benjamin #18, Garry #98.
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 | Garry |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Garry does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Garry.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Garry 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
Garry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #19 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 recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4991 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys