Benjamin vs Martin
Benjamin and Martincompared 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 1992, Benjamin was ranked #6 and Martin #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Martin #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Martin #69 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Martin #346 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Martin #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Martin #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Martin #102 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Martin over time
Benjamin and Martin appear together in 6 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Martin in 2.
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.
Martin 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 Martin fell out of it to #52, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Benjamin moved ahead of Martin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #52 and #42 the year before became #36 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Martin averaged 54.2 places apart, ending at #6 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Martin fell — from #100 and #47 in 1965 to #6 and #97 in 1992.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Martin were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1950 to 2025, ending at #48 and #69.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Martin in 37.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Martin #9 in 1964.
The order changed in 2018: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #69 and #69; by 2018 that had become #56 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Martin #102.
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1950–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Martin in 48.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Martin #1 in 1992.
The order changed in 2013: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #22 and #13; by 2013 that had become #22 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Martin #69.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Martin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Martin #346.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Martin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Martin #49 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Martin #216.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1965–1992
Benjamin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Martin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Martin #42 in 1970.
The order changed in 1971: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #52 and #42; by 1971 that had become #36 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Benjamin #6, Martin #97.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1970–1992
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Martin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #8 in 1992, Martin #43 in 1970.
The order changed in 1973: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #84 and #63; by 1973 that had become #57 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Benjamin #8, Martin #99.
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 | Martin |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | From the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Latin (Ancient Roman) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ |
| 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 #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Martin is recorded with a Latin (Ancient Roman) origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Martin.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Martin'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
Martin
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #83 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys