Benedict

boyLatinChristian

Benedict is a Christian boy name of Latin origin, meaning “Blessed”.

MeaningBlessed
GenderBoy
OriginLatin
PronunciationBEN-uh-dikt
TraditionChristian
Used inUnited Kingdom, Germany, Italy, United States

Meaning and origin of Benedict

Benedict comes from the Latin Benedictus, 'blessed', from bene, 'well', and dicere, 'to speak'. It owes its long history to Saint Benedict of Nursia, who founded the monastery of Monte Cassino around 529 and wrote the Rule that shaped Western monastic life. Sixteen popes have taken the name, most recently Benedict XVI. The actor Benedict Cumberbatch is a well-known modern bearer.

Is Benedict a Christian name?

Benedict is a strongly Catholic name honouring Saint Benedict, patron saint of Europe, whose feast day is 11 July. It is also used by Anglicans and others.

How popular is Benedict?

Steady but uncommon in English-speaking countries; more frequent in German and Italian forms.

Gifts with the name Benedict

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Spellings and variants of Benedict

BenedettoBenoîtBenediktBenitoBennett

Names similar to Benedict

More Christian boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Benedict mean?

Benedict means 'Blessed'. It is of Latin origin.

Is Benedict a Christian name?

Benedict is a strongly Catholic name honouring Saint Benedict, patron saint of Europe, whose feast day is 11 July. It is also used by Anglicans and others.

How do you pronounce Benedict?

Benedict is pronounced BEN-uh-dikt.

Is Benedict a boy or girl name?

Benedict is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.