Namewise

Benjamin vs Rudolf

Benjamin and Rudolfcompared 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 2025, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Rudolf #4275 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 1977, Benjamin was ranked #235 and Rudolf #562 among boys in Norway.

Benjamin and Rudolf over time

Benjamin and Rudolf appear together in 2 published lists, across 24 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 20042025

    Benjamin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rudolf in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Benjamin #9 in 2004, Rudolf #3011 in 2018.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #61, Rudolf #4275.

  • Norway · Boys9 shared years, 19501977

    Benjamin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rudolf in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Benjamin #235 in 1977, Rudolf #267 in 1950.

    The order changed in 1972: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #464 and #432; by 1972 that had become #322 and #613.

    Most recent shared year, 1977: Benjamin #235, Rudolf #562.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Benjamin

Pairs where Benjamin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Benjamin, Rudolf
FieldBenjaminRudolf
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly 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
OriginBiblical HebrewNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/Not yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, NO
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #4275 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/10060/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Benjamin has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Rudolf does not have one recorded yet.
  • Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rudolf.
  • A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Rudolf doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.

How each name got here

Benjamin

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1970–2023

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1970–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #61 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Rudolf

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #220 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–1977

    Highest recorded position: #220 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–1977).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys