Benjamin vs Jason
Benjamin and Jasoncompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2004, Benjamin was ranked #3 and Jason #85 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Benjamin was ranked #14 and Jason #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #43 and Jason #489 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Jason #197 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Jason #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Jason #199 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Jason #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Jason over time
Benjamin and Jason appear together in 6 published lists, across 230 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jason in 1.
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.
Jason 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 1977, Benjamin moved ahead of Jason in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #7 and #6 the year before became #5 and #10.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Jason changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #83 and #135.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Jason averaged 28.5 places apart, ending at #14 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Jason were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 39 years, from 1965 to 2005, ending at #14 and #91.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #42 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #76 and #305.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jason in 39.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Jason #18 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Jason #135.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys39 shared years, 1965–2005
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jason in 10.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Jason #1 in 1971.
The order changed in 1977: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #7 and #6; by 1977 that had become #5 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Benjamin #14, Jason #91.
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1969–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Jason in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Jason #330 in 1972.
The order changed in 1972: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #435 and #361; by 1972 that had become #322 and #330.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #43, Jason #489.
New Zealand · Boys35 shared years, 1970–2004
Benjamin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jason in 14.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Jason #1 in 1970.
The order changed in 1984: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #11 and #9; by 1984 that had become #10 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Benjamin #3, Jason #85.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jason in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Jason #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Jason #197.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jason in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Jason #36 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Jason #305.
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 | Jason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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). | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Jason is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Jason.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Jason's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys