Benedict

Benedict - A very unique male name

Benedict appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #508. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Benedict and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Benedict? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Benedict. The baby boy name Benedict was given to 261 baby boys in 2025, ranking #808 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 5,618 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Benedict peaked in popularity 112 years ago in 1914 on position 423.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Benedict, 1-5?

Benedict is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Benedict is currently topping the baby name charts in Minnesota at position #292 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,604.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Benedict is where you live.

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Benedict origin and meaning

Latin

From Latin benedictus, 'blessed,' the past participle of benedicere, 'to bless'

Benedict is the name of St Benedict of Nursia, founder of Western monasticism, and of sixteen popes. In the US it was always a formal, uncommon choice until the actor Benedict Cumberbatch made it vivid; it has now risen to its highest use in 2025.

Attested etymology

Benedict is a 8 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Benedict, pop culture references for the name Benedict and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Benedict

We've found the following names that sound similar to Benedict, sorted by popularity.

Bentzion / Bentzy / Benedicto /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Benedict

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Benedict a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Benedict?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

BEN-uh-dikt · /ˈbɛnədɪkt/

Around the world

• Benedetto (Italian) — The Italian form
• Benedicto (Spanish) — The Spanish form
• Benoît (French) — The French form of the same Latin name

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: BenBenny

Famous bearers

• Benedict of Nursia — Founder of the Benedictine order and author of the Rule of Saint Benedict (c. 480–547) Historical
• Benedict Arnold — American general who defected to the British in the Revolutionary War (1741–1801) Historical
• Benedict Cumberbatch — English actor known for Sherlock and Doctor Strange (b. 1976) Contemporary

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Benedict for formality with warmth — a saint's and scholars' name that shortens to the friendly Ben.

Worth knowing

• In the US, Benedict Arnold made the full name a byword for treason, an association older Americans still carry