Benjamin vs Shaun
Benjamin and Shauncompared 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 1999, Benjamin was ranked #6 and Shaun #92 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Shaun #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Benjamin was ranked #60 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Shaun over time
Benjamin and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shaun in 0.
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.
Shaun reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Benjamin 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 1969, Benjamin moved ahead of Shaun in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #81 and #66 the year before became #68 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Shaun changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #83 and #577.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Shaun averaged 49.0 places apart, ending at #8 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Shaun were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1965 to 1997, ending at #8 and #96.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1966–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Shaun in 24.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Shaun #81 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Shaun #577.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1965–1997
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 2.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Shaun #38 in 1981.
The order changed in 1969: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #81 and #66; by 1969 that had become #68 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Benjamin #8, Shaun #96.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1970–1999
Benjamin held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shaun in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1995, Shaun #34 in 1988.
The order changed in 1974: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #57 and #45; by 1974 that had become #40 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Benjamin #6, Shaun #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Shaun #76 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #61, Shaun #1162.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2017
Benjamin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Shaun #121 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Benjamin #60, Shaun #318.
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 | Shaun |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| 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); Shaun does not have one recorded yet.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Shaun.
- A meaning is recorded for Benjamin; Shaun doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Shaun
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1999
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys