Benjamin vs Pawel
Benjamin and Pawelcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2009, Benjamin was ranked #18 and Pawel #495 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Benjamin was ranked #56 and Pawel #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Pawel #4270 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Benjamin was ranked #64 and Pawel #346 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Benjamin and Pawel over time
Benjamin and Pawel appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Pawel in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Benjamin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Pawel 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 1988, Benjamin moved ahead of Pawel in Norway · Boys — #125 and #74 the year before became #95 and #105.
- Mirrored each other
Over 42 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Pawel fell — from #481 and #257 in 1962 to #18 and #495 in 2009.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Pawel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 42 years, from 1962 to 2009, ending at #18 and #495.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Benjamin #56 in 2007, Pawel #251 in 2009.
List by list
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1962–2009
Benjamin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Pawel in 21.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #16 in 2006, Pawel #54 in 1979.
The order changed in 1988: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #125 and #74; by 1988 that had become #95 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Benjamin #18, Pawel #495.
England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Pawel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #11 in 2005, Pawel #617 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Pawel #4270.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2006–2018
Benjamin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Pawel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #56 in 2007, Pawel #251 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Benjamin #56, Pawel #749.
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 | Pawel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4270 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Pawel does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Pawel.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Pawel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Pawel
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #432 among boys in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2009
Highest recorded position: #54 among boys in Norway, in 1979 (recorded 1955–2009).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys