Benjamin vs Stephen
Benjamin and Stephen compared 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 1997, Benjamin was ranked #7 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Benjamin was ranked #8 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Benjamin was ranked #25 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #61 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #76 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Benjamin was ranked #78 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Benjamin was ranked #83 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Benjamin and Stephen over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Benjamin and Stephen over time
Benjamin and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 212 years of shared records. Benjamin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stephen 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.
Stephen 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 #22 in 2002 as Stephen fell out of it to #54, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Benjamin moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #27 and #20 the year before became #18 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Benjamin and Stephen changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1950 and 2001, ending at #25 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Benjamin and Stephen averaged 35.7 places apart, ending at #8 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Stephen fell — from #345 and #319 in 1950 to #25 and #522 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Benjamin and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #61 and #716.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 44.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #50 in 2020, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2009: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #63 and #58; by 2009 that had become #68 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #83, Stephen #232.
Norway · Boys33 shared years, 1950–2001
Benjamin held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Stephen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #21 in 2000, Stephen #250 in 1990.
The order changed in 1975: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #343 and #328; by 1975 that had become #244 and #406.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Benjamin #25, Stephen #522.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1965–1997
Benjamin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stephen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #5 in 1977, Stephen #8 in 1965.
The order changed in 1974: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #27 and #20; by 1974 that had become #18 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Benjamin #8, Stephen #100.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Benjamin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 2002, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Benjamin #61, Stephen #716.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1970–1997
Benjamin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Stephen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #6 in 1995, Stephen #7 in 1970.
The order changed in 1978: Benjamin moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #22 and #16; by 1978 that had become #14 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Benjamin #7, Stephen #95.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Benjamin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stephen in 3.
Highest recorded here: Benjamin #22 in 2002, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2002: Benjamin moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #46 and #46; by 2002 that had become #22 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Benjamin #76, Stephen #305.
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.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #395.
Benjamin · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Justin
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #139 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #83 and #402.
Benjamin · Justin · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Benjamin vs Einar
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Boys, Benjamin rose about as far as Einar fell — from #345 and #27 in 1950 to #48 and #57 in 2025.
Benjamin · Einar · 61 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Stephen
Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Stephen vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #2014.
Stephen · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #13.
Stephen · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Dylan
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #57 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #72.
Stephen · Dylan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Benjamin | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Greek Stephanos, meaning 'crown, wreath' — literally 'that which surrounds'. Saint Stephen, a deacon stoned to death in the New Testament, is regarded as the first Christian martyr. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛndʒəmɪn/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #46 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Benjamin is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Benjamin has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- Benjamin's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Benjamin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Stephen a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Stephen
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #352 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1997
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys