Benjamin vs Jonathan
Benjamin and Jonathancompared 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 2013, Benjamin was ranked #14 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Benjamin was ranked #17 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Jonathan over time
Benjamin and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 265 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jonathan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Benjamin in 1. 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 1968, Benjamin moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #100 and #96 the year before became #81 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Jonathan changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #48 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Jonathan averaged 51.1 places apart, ending at #17 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1965 to 2016, ending at #17 and #97.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order changed in 1998: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #84 and #63; by 1998 that had become #77 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Jonathan #223.
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1969–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Jonathan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Jonathan #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1965–2016
Benjamin held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order changed in 1968: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #100 and #96; by 1968 that had become #81 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Benjamin #17, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1970–2013
Benjamin held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order changed in 1976: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #28 and #27; by 1976 that had become #26 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Benjamin #14, Jonathan #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jonathan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2002: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #46 and #40; by 2002 that had become #22 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Jonathan #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 | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin and Jonathan both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Jonathan 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
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys