Benjamin vs Kim
Benjamin and Kimcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Benjamin was ranked #29 and Kim #370 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Benjamin was ranked #30 and Kim #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Benjamin was ranked #55 and Kim #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Kim over time
Benjamin and Kim appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kim in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1994, Benjamin moved ahead of Kim in Norway · Boys — #57 and #36 the year before became #38 and #41.
- Mirrored each other
Over 56 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Kim fell — from #422 and #202 in 1957 to #29 and #370 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Kim were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 56 years, from 1957 to 2023, ending at #29 and #370.
List by list
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1957–2023
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Kim in 28.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Kim #10 in 1987.
The order changed in 1994: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #57 and #36; by 1994 that had become #38 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Benjamin #29, Kim #370.
England and Wales · Boys17 shared years, 1996–2015
Benjamin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Kim #1168 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Benjamin #30, Kim #4747.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1971–2005
Benjamin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Kim in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #55 in 2005, Kim #250 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Benjamin #55, Kim #518.
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 | Kim |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Kim.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls