Find out how popular the first name Benedict has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Benedict by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Benedict is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 245 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Benedict.

The history of the first name Benedict

The name Benedict has its origins in the Late Latin language. It is derived from the Latin words "bene" meaning "well" and "dictus" meaning "spoken". The name can be translated to mean "well spoken" or "blessed".

In the 6th century, the name became associated with the founder of the Benedictine monastic order, Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 – c. 547). He is renowned for writing the Benedictine Rule, which became the foundational document for Western monasticism.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Benedict can be found in the Dialogues of Pope Gregory I, written in the late 6th century. This work contains biographical details about Saint Benedict and helped to spread knowledge of his life and teachings.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Benedict. Pope Benedict I (c. 550 – 579) was the Bishop of Rome in the late 6th century. Benedict of Aniane (747 – 821) was a Benedictine monk and reformer who played a key role in reviving monastic life in the Carolingian Empire.

During the Middle Ages, Benedict Biscop (c. 628 – 690) was an Anglo-Saxon monk who founded the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow monasteries in present-day Tyne and Wear, England. These monasteries became renowned centers of learning and produced the Venerable Bede, a famous scholar and historian.

In more recent history, Benedict Arnold (1741 – 1801) was an American military officer who defected to the British during the American Revolutionary War. Despite his later betrayal, he was initially a skilled and respected officer.

Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger, 1927 – 2022) was the head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013, when he became the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. His resignation was a significant event in the modern history of the papacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Benedict was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Benedict, please contact us.

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