Benito first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Benito

Meaning "blessed" in Latin, a masculine name with Italian and Spanish origins.

Popularity of Benito by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Benito is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Benito being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 201 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Benito.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 201 0
2022 190 0
2021 175 0
2020 100 0
2019 105 0
2018 86 0
2017 104 0
2016 79 0
2015 87 0
2014 92 0
2013 118 0
2012 106 0
2011 125 0
2010 108 0
2009 119 0
2008 146 0
2007 165 0
2006 182 0
2005 152 0
2004 156 0
2003 161 0
2002 147 0
2001 152 0
2000 174 0
1999 177 0
1998 166 0
1997 176 0
1996 198 0
1995 190 0
1994 193 0
1993 176 0
1992 195 0
1991 171 5
1990 163 0
1989 148 0
1988 139 0
1987 152 0
1986 166 5
1985 141 0
1984 157 0
1983 156 0
1982 175 0
1981 167 6
1980 179 0
1979 178 0
1978 154 0
1977 171 5
1976 174 0
1975 151 0
1974 166 0

The history of the first name Benito

The name Benito originated from the Italian language and culture. It is a diminutive form of the Italian name Benedetto, which is derived from the Latin name Benedictus, meaning "blessed." The name was particularly popular in medieval Italy and Spain.

The name Benedictus can be traced back to the early Christian era, as it was the name of several early saints and popes. One of the most notable figures with this name is Saint Benedict of Nursia, who lived in the 6th century and is considered the founder of the Benedictine monastic order.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Benito can be found in the 12th century, in reference to Benito Guzman, a Spanish nobleman and military leader during the Reconquista. Another notable figure was Benito Arias Montano, a 16th-century Spanish scholar and biblical editor.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with Benito Juarez, a Mexican politician and statesman who served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872. He is celebrated for his liberal reforms and for leading Mexico through the French intervention.

Another famous bearer of the name was Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator who ruled as the Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943 and established a fascist regime. He played a significant role in World War II as an ally of Nazi Germany.

In the 20th century, Benito Quinquela Martin, an Argentine painter known for his depictions of dock workers and port scenes, also carried this name. He was born in 1890 and died in 1977.

While the popularity of the name Benito has waned in recent decades, it remains a significant historical name, particularly in Italian and Spanish-speaking cultures, with its roots in the early Christian era and its association with notable figures throughout history.

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 Benito was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Benito first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/benito-meaning-and-history/.

"Benito first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/benito-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Benito first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/benito-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.