Find out how popular the first name Benni has been for the last 12 years (from 2013 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Benni by gender

Based on the last 12 years of data, Benni is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 85% of people named Benni being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 16 female babies and 6 male babies born with the name Benni.

The history of the first name Benni

The given name Benni has its roots in the Germanic language family. It is a diminutive form of the name Benedict, which is derived from the Latin words "bene" meaning "well" and "dictus" meaning "spoken." The name can be traced back to the 6th century AD, when it first appeared in records from the region that is now known as Italy.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Benni can be found in the writings of the Venerable Bede, an English monk who lived from 672 to 735 AD. He mentions a monk named Benedictus who was known for his piety and wisdom. In the 11th century, there was a notable figure named Benni who was a bishop in the city of Meissen, located in present-day Germany.

During the Middle Ages, the name Benni gained popularity among the nobility and aristocracy across Europe. One famous bearer of the name was Benni of Gorizia, an Italian nobleman who lived from 1275 to 1304. He was known for his military prowess and served as the Count of Gorizia.

In the Renaissance period, a notable figure named Benni Amleto di Collato (1470-1528) was a renowned Italian painter and sculptor who worked in the city of Venice. His works can still be found in various churches and museums across Italy.

Another historical figure with the name Benni was Benni de' Alessandri (1455-1505), an Italian poet and diplomat from Florence. He was known for his humorous and satirical writings, which often criticized the social and political conditions of his time.

As the name Benni spread across Europe, it also found its way into other cultural traditions. In the 19th century, there was a Finnish writer named Benni Leino (1855-1929) who was celebrated for his romantic and lyrical poetry. He played a significant role in the development of Finnish literature and the preservation of the Finnish language.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Benni. While the name may have evolved and taken on different variations over time, its origins can be traced back to the Germanic language family and the Latin root words that gave rise to the name Benedict.

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

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

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