Benjamin vs Joseph
Benjamin and Joseph compared 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 2025, Benjamin was ranked #46 and Joseph #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Joseph #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #39 and Joseph #69 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Joseph #465 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Joseph #59 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Joseph #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Joseph #82 among boys in Scotland.
Benjamin and Joseph over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Benjamin and Joseph over time
Benjamin and Joseph appear together in 6 published lists, across 291 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Joseph reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Benjamin in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Benjamin moved into the top 50 at #40 in 1974 as Joseph fell out of it to #52, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Benjamin moved ahead of Joseph in New Zealand · Boys — #57 and #50 the year before became #40 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Joseph changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #61 and #59.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Benjamin and Joseph averaged 5.0 places apart, ending at #61 and #59.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Joseph were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #61 and #59.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #6 in 2002, Joseph #7 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Joseph in 61.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Joseph #11 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Joseph #64.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys59 shared years, 1965–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Joseph in 5.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Joseph #32 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #46, Joseph #33.
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1957–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Joseph in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Joseph #272 in 1985.
The order changed in 1970: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #464 and #383; by 1970 that had become #329 and #381.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Joseph #465.
New Zealand · Boys54 shared years, 1970–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Joseph in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Joseph #18 in 1988.
The order changed in 1974: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #57 and #50; by 1974 that had become #40 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #39, Joseph #69.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Joseph in 24.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Joseph #7 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #61, Joseph #59.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Joseph in 21.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Joseph #22 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Joseph #34.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Benjamin
Pairs where Benjamin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #395.
Benjamin · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Justin
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #139 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #83 and #402.
Benjamin · Justin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Einar
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Einar fell — from #345 and #27 in 1950 to #48 and #57 in 2025.
Benjamin · Einar · 61 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Joseph
Pairs where Joseph shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joseph vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #36 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #76 and #395.
Joseph · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Benjamin | Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Joseph.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Joseph 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 #61 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys