Benedict

[hellobanjo]

Which of these associations springs to mind when you encounter the name [name_m]Benedict[/name_m]?

• Eggs [name_m]Benedict[/name_m]
• [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] Cumberbatch
• [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m]
• Pope [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] (or another religious association)
• Something else, comment below!

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] is a useable name in the first or middle spot in the US?
(This is about the [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] association.)

• Yes, no problem in the US
• Maybe, there could be problems in the US
• No, definitely not a good idea in the US

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] is a usable name outside the US?

• Yes, usable
• Maybe
• No

[elanorelle]

Literally all of those associations spring to mind with the name for me!

I think [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] is usable here in the US, despite [name_m]Arnold[/name_m]. (It’s the full name, Benedict Arnold, that really means ‘traitor’.) [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] on its own is totally fine – especially since there are clearly other associations. It’s not like naming your child [name_m]Judas[/name_m].

[shells15]

Benedict is definitely usable here in the US.

I think you’re fine using [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] OR [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] as individual names, but I wouldn’t use [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m], [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] or brothers [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] & [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] here in the US.

[emarias22]

I wouldn’t use it in the US with the bad connotations of the historical figure. It would be fine in the middle spot though.

[Harvest-Endellion]

I agree. It’s like [name_m]Charles[/name_m] rather than [name_m]Charles[/name_m] [name_m]Manson[/name_m]. I also love [name_m]Benji[/name_m] as a little boy nn for it.

[Greyblue]

I think it’s perfectly usable

[findemaxa13]

I live in the US and I don’t think the [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] association would be much of an issue: speaking from personal experience as a history nerd who finds him very interesting, most people don’t seem to have any idea who he was. I’m not sure it would be super wearable in the US because it’s quite uncommon and has a bit of an uppercrust vibe that could be viewed as pretentious by some, but the [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] association doesn’t seem like it would be a big issue. I like it and I think the potential nicknames help it feel a bit more down to earth!

[whatchamacallit]

I really like this name but I wouldn’t use it in the US because [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] is synonymous with traitor. The name is fairly unusual where I am so I don’t have many other associations. Many people here would hear [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] and automatically think [name_m]Arnold[/name_m].

I think people would associate it with Cumberbatch too though. (Not a bad thing at all!).

I still think it’s an awesome name with a lovely meaning and if I was outside the US I would consider it.

[anon47024950]

It is definitely usable in the UK, I have siblings [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] and [name_m]Percival[/name_m] on my list but I know it is less usable in the USA due to associations, however I do think it could still work there!

[rhodes2nowhere]

I’m from the US and I wouldn’t associate [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] with the historical figure at all. The association isn’t that strong IMO

[Rachelhaydenberk]

I think of eggs [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] honestly!

I personally prefer just [name_u]Bennett[/name_u]- which I think is way more usable in the US.

[itsjustjack]

I voted for every single one, and I also think of the Shakespeare character (Benedick). Lots of associations for me— honestly some of them not favorable for a child, what with eggs and traitors. Of course, a lot of my friends are culinary and history nerds, so maybe take this with a grain of salt. There are certainly worse names to have, and it may be less of an association where you are than here.

I don’t think it’s completely unusable in the United States, but I can’t say I would do it either.

I like Benedick better, but unfortunately the teasing potential is even worse. maybe Bennett or Benvolio are possible alternatives?

[choupette]

I live in the UK and I’m only familiar with the former Pope and Cumberbatch. I’ve never heard of [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] or the eggs.
I’m not sure if I would recommend it if it has a negative connotation in the US.

[almostactually]

All of those associations spring to mind! [name_m]Even[/name_m] as an American who is familiar with [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m], I don’t think it would be much of a problem.

[averynkats]

Reminds me of the Mysterious [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] Society, which is a novel I loved as a child!

[rosepip]

I know four Benedicts - that’s (they’re?) my association.

[kasatka]

I chose something else for the association -

I follow this person on social media who has a little duckling named [name_m]Benedict[/name_m].

[gracegillian]

I actually don’t have any immediate associations with [name_m]Benedict[/name_m]… Perhaps [name_m]Charles[/name_m] [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] who was an Olympian Sport [name_m]Shooter[/name_m].
I don’t live in [name_u]America[/name_u], so I’m not really sure if there would be any issues. As far as I’m aware, it’s completely usable over here in Australia, the Benedicts that I have known never ran into any issues with their name!

[acajou]

I’m in the US and I wouldn’t have made the connection to [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] [name_m]Arnold[/name_m], but after reading previous posters I would change my vote about usability of this name. I didn’t know it was used as an insult.

I think of Pope [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] and the word “benediction.” I love the name.

[EllieWilbury]

I think of [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] Blackthorn from the Blackthorn Key series, and Mr. [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] from the Mysterious [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] society (my family reads it aloud in the evenings).