Benjamin vs Kevin
Benjamin and Kevincompared 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 1999, Benjamin was ranked #6 and Kevin #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2001, Benjamin was ranked #10 and Kevin #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Kevin #186 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Kevin #264 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Kevin #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Kevin #432 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Kevin #139 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Kevin over time
Benjamin and Kevin appear together in 6 published lists, across 236 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kevin 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.
Kevin 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1971 as Kevin fell out of it to #51, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Benjamin moved ahead of Kevin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #52 and #45 the year before became #36 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Kevin changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2025, ending at #48 and #186.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Kevin averaged 60.0 places apart, ending at #10 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Kevin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1965 to 2001, ending at #10 and #98.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kevin in 47.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Kevin #11 in 1987.
The order changed in 2012: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #74 and #58; by 2012 that had become #68 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Kevin #139.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1957–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Kevin in 10.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Kevin #44 in 2002.
The order changed in 1979: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #231 and #209; by 1979 that had become #220 and #252.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Kevin #186.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1965–2001
Benjamin held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Kevin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Kevin #27 in 1965.
The order changed in 1971: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #52 and #45; by 1971 that had become #36 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Benjamin #10, Kevin #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Kevin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Kevin #141 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Kevin #264.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kevin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Kevin #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Kevin #164.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1970–1999
Benjamin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kevin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1999, Kevin #36 in 1970.
The order changed in 1974: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #57 and #40; by 1974 that had become #40 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Benjamin #6, Kevin #94.
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 | Kevin |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | An Anglicized form of the Irish Caoimhín, combining Old Irish 'cóem' (dear, beloved, gentle) with 'gein' (birth) — 'beloved birth'. Associated with Saint Caoimhín, who founded a monastery at Glendalough in the 6th century. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈkɛv.ɪn/ |
| 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 #139 (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 Kevin is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Kevin.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Kevin'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
Kevin
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 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 recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys