Benjamin vs Paul
Benjamin and Paulcompared 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 1998, Benjamin was ranked #9 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Benjamin was ranked #9 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #43 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Paul over time
Benjamin and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 239 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Paul in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Benjamin moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #14 and #7 the year before became #7 and #10.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Paul averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #9 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #61 and #602.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #27 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #76 and #278.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Paul in 43.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order changed in 2007: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #68 and #62; by 2007 that had become #56 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Paul #286.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1950–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Paul in 21.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Paul #77 in 1950.
The order changed in 1986: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #189 and #153; by 1986 that had become #150 and #175.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #43, Paul #370.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1965–1998
Benjamin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paul in 9.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Paul #4 in 1968.
The order changed in 1976: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #14 and #7; by 1976 that had become #7 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Benjamin #9, Paul #86.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #61, Paul #602.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1970–1998
Benjamin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paul in 11.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1995, Paul #4 in 1971.
The order changed in 1981: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #14 and #9; by 1981 that had become #12 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Benjamin #9, Paul #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Paul in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #40 and #32; by 2000 that had become #38 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Paul #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 | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| 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 Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Paul'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 #61 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys