Benjamin vs Laurence
Benjamin and Laurencecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Benjamin was ranked #53 and Laurence #346 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Laurence #401 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #74 and Laurence #582 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Laurence over time
Benjamin and Laurence appear together in 2 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Laurence 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.
Laurence reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1990, Benjamin moved ahead of Laurence in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #136 and #119 the year before became #117 and #126.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Laurence were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #61 and #401.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Laurence in 26.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Laurence #47 in 1968.
The order changed in 1990: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #136 and #119; by 1990 that had become #117 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #74, Laurence #582.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Laurence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Laurence #161 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #61, Laurence #401.
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
Side by side
| Field | Benjamin | Laurence |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #401 (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); Laurence does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin and Laurence both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Laurence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Laurence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #86 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 recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #401 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys