Benjamin vs Robert
Benjamin and Robertcompared 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 2003, Benjamin was ranked #9 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Benjamin was ranked #15 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #48 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Robert over time
Benjamin and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 259 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Robert 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.
Robert 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Benjamin moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2008 as Robert fell out of it to #71, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Benjamin moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #14 and #13 the year before became #7 and #14.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Robert averaged 31.4 places apart, ending at #9 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 37 years, from 1965 to 2003, ending at #9 and #95.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Robert in 55.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 2023: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #81 and #78; by 2023 that had become #71 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Robert #104.
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1950–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Robert in 27.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #13 in 2016, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order changed in 1992: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #70 and #55; by 1992 that had become #59 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #48, Robert #363.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2012
Benjamin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Robert in 8.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #3 in 2003, Robert #12 in 1972.
The order changed in 1978: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #22 and #17; by 1978 that had become #14 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Benjamin #15, Robert #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1965–2003
Benjamin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Robert in 9.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Robert #7 in 1965.
The order changed in 1976: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #14 and #13; by 1976 that had become #7 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Benjamin #9, Robert #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Robert in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Robert in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #56 and #42; by 2008 that had become #44 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Robert #93.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robert.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Robert'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 #46 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys