Benjamin vs Mohammed
Benjamin and Mohammedcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Mohammed #21 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Mohammed #128 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Mohammed #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Mohammed #117 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Mohammed #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Mohammed over time
Benjamin and Mohammed appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Mohammed in 1.
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 2 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 2010, Mohammed moved ahead of Benjamin in England and Wales · Boys — #15 and #16 the year before became #22 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Benjamin and Mohammed averaged 10.0 places apart, ending at #61 and #21.
- Mirrored each other
Over 38 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Mohammed fell — from #222 and #288 in 1980 to #83 and #468 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Mohammed were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1950 to 2025, ending at #48 and #128.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1950–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Mohammed in 21.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Mohammed #102 in 2002.
The order changed in 1987: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #150 and #130; by 1987 that had become #125 and #157.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Mohammed #128.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1980–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Mohammed in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Mohammed #179 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Mohammed #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Mohammed in 16.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Mohammed #16 in 2008.
The order changed in 2010: Mohammed moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #15 and #16; by 2010 that had become #22 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Mohammed #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1999–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mohammed in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2003, Mohammed #255 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Mohammed #278.
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 | Mohammed |
|---|---|---|
| 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). | Alternate transcription of the Arabic محمّد, traditionally interpreted as 'praiseworthy, commendable' — the same underlying name as Muhammad, spelled via a different, independently well-established transliteration. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Arabic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /mu.ˈħam.mad/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Muhammad |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Norway · Boys #128 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Benjamin is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Mohammed is recorded with a Arabic origin.
- Benjamin and Mohammed both have 3 syllables.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Mohammed's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Benjamin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Mohammed a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Mohammed
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #218 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #128 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys