Benjamin vs Mathew
Benjamin and Mathewcompared 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 Mathew #96 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Mathew #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Benjamin was ranked #57 and Mathew #418 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Mathew #1517 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Mathew #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Mathew over time
Benjamin and Mathew appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Mathew 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.
Mathew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Benjamin in 1. 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 1969, Benjamin moved ahead of Mathew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #81 and #80 the year before became #68 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Mathew averaged 34.8 places apart, ending at #8 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Mathew were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1968 to 2000, ending at #8 and #98.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #145 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #83 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Mathew in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #53 in 2002, Mathew #145 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Mathew #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1968–2000
Benjamin held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Mathew in 1.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Mathew #29 in 1985.
The order changed in 1969: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #81 and #80; by 1969 that had become #68 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Benjamin #8, Mathew #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Mathew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Mathew #115 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Mathew #1517.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1970–1999
Benjamin held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Mathew in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1995, Mathew #37 in 1985.
The order changed in 1973: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #84 and #76; by 1973 that had become #57 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Benjamin #6, Mathew #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2019
Benjamin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Mathew in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Mathew #190 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Benjamin #57, Mathew #418.
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 | Mathew |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Mathew does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Mathew.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Mathew doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Mathew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #145 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2000
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys