Rising since 1991, #814 for boys today.
Popularity of Benedict since 1882
Babies named Benedict per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 39 |
| 1890s | 72 |
| 1900s | 122 |
| 1910s | 979 |
| 1920s | 1,144 |
| 1930s | 696 |
| 1940s | 775 |
| 1950s | 830 |
| 1960s | 708 |
| 1970s | 452 |
| 1980s | 530 |
| 1990s | 493 |
| 2000s | 844 |
| 2010s | 1,344 |
| 2020s | 1,447 |
Meaning & origin
Benedict is a classic Latin name meaning 'blessed', first recorded in the U.S. in 1882. After a long period of low use, it has been steadily rising in popularity since 1991, reaching its peak rank of 814 in 2025, with an incidence of 1 in 5,600 newborns. The name is most popular in the top states of Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas. Its revival reflects a broader trend toward traditional, saintly names with a distinguished literary and historical pedigree.
Benedict derives from the Latin name Benedictus, meaning 'blessed'. It was popularized by Saint Benedict of Nursia, the founder of the Benedictine monastic order in the 6th century. The name has been used throughout Europe, especially in England, where it was revived in the 19th century after the Oxford Movement.
Where Benedict is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Benedict” around the world
Where Benedict lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ben, Benny, Bennie
Sibling names for Benedict
Names that share Benedict's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Beatrice, Cecilia, Felicity, Genevieve, Juliet, Adriene, Arabella, Augustina, Celestine, Honora, Jacquetta, Magdalene, Philippa, Portia, Rowena, Sophronia, Anetta, Annaleise, Beata, Dorathea, Eufemia, Genevive, Magdeline, Willamina, Adelise, Alixandra, Anthonia, Eusebia, Magdelyn, Petronella, Rejoice, Theodosia, Veneda, Virgin, Adriena, Beatryce, Benedicta, Benicia, Cressida, Domini, Gratia, Michaline, Minola, Rosezetta
Brothers: Dominic, Gregory, Lawrence, Sebastian, Vincent, Ambrose, Augustine, Barrington, Wellington, Agustine, Albertus, Emeric, Montague, Pius, Reynard, Salvator, Abundio, Antonious, Austine, Barnaby, Fitzroy, Mansfield, Ascension, Peregrin, Wyndham
