Benjamin vs Patrick
Benjamin and Patrickcompared 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 2020, Benjamin was ranked #22 and Patrick #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Patrick #25 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Patrick #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #46 and Patrick #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Patrick #327 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Patrick #120 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Patrick #125 among boys in Scotland.
Benjamin and Patrick over time
Benjamin and Patrick appear together in 6 published lists, across 286 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Patrick in 2.
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.
Patrick reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Benjamin in 2. 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 1970, Benjamin moved ahead of Patrick in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #68 and #61 the year before became #52 and #57.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Patrick changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2025, ending at #48 and #327.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 59 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Patrick averaged 35.8 places apart, ending at #46 and #83.
- Mirrored each other
Over 59 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #100 and #54 in 1965 to #46 and #83 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Patrick were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 59 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #46 and #83.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #22 in 2002, Patrick #18 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 62.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Patrick #2 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Patrick #25.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1957–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Patrick in 13.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Patrick #67 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Patrick #327.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys59 shared years, 1965–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Patrick in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Patrick #30 in 1994.
The order changed in 1970: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #68 and #61; by 1970 that had become #52 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #46, Patrick #83.
New Zealand · Boys48 shared years, 1970–2020
Benjamin held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Patrick in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Patrick #47 in 1991.
The order changed in 1973: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #84 and #61; by 1973 that had become #57 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Benjamin #22, Patrick #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Patrick in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Patrick #66 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Patrick #120.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 28.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Patrick #18 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Patrick #26.
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 | Patrick |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Latin Patricius, meaning 'nobleman, patrician'. Adopted by Saint Patrick (originally named Sucat), a Romanized Briton who Christianized Ireland and became its patron saint. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Pádraig, Pádraic |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| 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 Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Patrick.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Patrick's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Benjamin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Patrick 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
Patrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #315 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys