Benjamin vs Graham
Benjamin and Grahamcompared 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 1979, Benjamin was ranked #6 and Graham #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Benjamin was ranked #40 and Graham #387 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Graham #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #71 and Graham #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Benjamin was ranked #84 and Graham #74 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Graham #727 among boys in Scotland.
Benjamin and Graham over time
Benjamin and Graham appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Graham 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.
Graham reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1970, Benjamin moved ahead of Graham in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #68 and #50 the year before became #52 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Graham were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #71 and #770.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Graham in 33.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2002, Graham #52 in 1984.
The order changed in 1997: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #88 and #66; by 1997 that had become #84 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #71, Graham #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Graham #341 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Graham #5119.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1965–1979
Benjamin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Graham in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Graham #41 in 1965.
The order changed in 1970: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #68 and #50; by 1970 that had become #52 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Benjamin #6, Graham #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2010
Benjamin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Graham #137 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Benjamin #40, Graham #387.
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 | Graham |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 | 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); Graham does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Graham.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Graham 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
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys