Benjamin vs Marcus
Benjamin and Marcuscompared 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 2014, Benjamin was ranked #9 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #44 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Marcus over time
Benjamin and Marcus appear together in 6 published lists, across 224 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Marcus in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 2002, Benjamin moved ahead of Marcus in Norway · Boys — #25 and #24 the year before became #21 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Marcus changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #48 and #150.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Marcus averaged 57.1 places apart, ending at #44 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #48 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #6 in 2002, Marcus #83 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Marcus in 17.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order changed in 1990: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #136 and #129; by 1990 that had become #117 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Marcus #232.
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1965–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Marcus in 7.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Marcus #24 in 2001.
The order changed in 2002: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #25 and #24; by 2002 that had become #21 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Marcus #150.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Marcus #233.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1971–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #7 in 1995, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #44, Marcus #93.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Marcus #144.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–2014
Benjamin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #4 in 2002, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Benjamin #9, Marcus #90.
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 | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys