Benjamin vs Glen
Benjamin and Glencompared 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 1986, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Glen #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Glen #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 1998, Benjamin was ranked #35 and Glen #558 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Benjamin was ranked #44 and Glen #378 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Glen #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Glen #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Glen #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Glen over time
Benjamin and Glen appear together in 6 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Glen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Glen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 1971, Benjamin moved ahead of Glen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #52 and #43 the year before became #36 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Glen changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #83 and #676.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Glen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #83 and #676.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Glen in 18.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Glen #83 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Glen #676.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Glen #281 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Glen #3688.
Norway · Boys22 shared years, 1962–1998
Benjamin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Glen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #35 in 1998, Glen #331 in 1982.
The order changed in 1970: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #517 and #443; by 1970 that had become #329 and #533.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Benjamin #35, Glen #558.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1965–1986
Benjamin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Glen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Glen #40 in 1971.
The order changed in 1971: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #52 and #43; by 1971 that had become #36 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Benjamin #8, Glen #91.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1970–1985
Benjamin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Glen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #8 in 1985, Glen #29 in 1975.
The order changed in 1975: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #40 and #37; by 1975 that had become #28 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Benjamin #8, Glen #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2008
Benjamin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Glen #129 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Benjamin #44, Glen #378.
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 | Glen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Glen does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Glen.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Glen 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
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys