Benoit?

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten opinions on this, and I think there’s a lot of fresh faces in Nameberry since I last brought it up - so how are we feeling on how usable [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] is?

I find him so cuddly and adorable and [name_u]French[/name_u] names hold a very special spot in my heart for some personal reasons; I love the idea of me with a little [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] one day. However… is it really usable in the US? I’ll keep from sharing the associations people didn’t love last time, just in case they wouldn’t be a connection people still make. Would love to hear your thoughts, and if you think [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] is usable… what would you give him as a middle?

Thanks, berries!

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I like it! Has a nice meaning as well. :blush: Is it pronounced just as it says on the listing- “Ben-WAH”? If so, my guess is that anyone who first learns of his name through writing (a teacher calling attendance for the first time, doctor’s office, etc) will probably need help with pronunciation. But it seems like it could be usable. :grinning:

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In French, more accurately almost bun-WAH but yes, essentially!

A few combos that come to mind:

[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] Alexander/Alexandre
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Armando[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_u]Sinclair[/name_u]

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I definitely think it’s usable! People may need some help with pronunciation but it’s not one that’s particularly complicated.

[name_f]My[/name_f] only association is [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] Blanc from the Knives Out movies, which is positive to me!

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[name_f]My[/name_f] thoughts upon reading the name were 1) french!, 2) reminds me of beignet, and 3) isn’t there some character with this name? (All neither pos or neg connotations.) After googling, I did realize I was thinking of [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] Blanc from the Knives Out film franchise.

(Spoiler covered in case other people haven’t made that association.)

With those being my only associations, I’d say it’s usable! You may run into some pronunciation hurdles here and there, but [name_u]French[/name_u] pronunciations are probably pretty intuitive in the US with it being a fairly popular taught/learned language.

As for middles I might stick with the [name_u]French[/name_u] and go for something like [name_u]Camille[/name_u] or [name_u]René[/name_u].

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I prefer [name_m]Benedict[/name_m] to [name_m]Benoit[/name_m], but it is cool for you [name_u]Ash[/name_u]! :sparkles::pretzel: Fits with your other names.

I know how to pronounce it and it is a quiet known name so do not worry ^^

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I like [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] a lot myself, but I think I find the pronunciation hurdle just a little too cumbersome in the US, and this is coming from someone in [name_f]Louisiana[/name_f] so people here are familiar with [name_u]French[/name_u] names. I feel like it would be livable, but difficult or annoying because the very vast majority of people won’t spell or pronounce it right at first. Therefore he’s on my “middle-only” list but I like seeing other people appreciate this name!

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I immediately think of the wrestler, [name_u]Chris[/name_u] [name_m]Benoit[/name_m], and what happened with him and what he did to his family. I won’t put it here because triggers, but that would be enough to deter me from using it, personally. :weary:

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I’ve always thought [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] was so cool! I’m not sure if it’s considered dated in French-speaking countries, but that wouldn’t be a problem in the US.

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[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] would be hard to use the the US. He would forever be correcting people on the pronunciation and spelling, needing to explain that no, he isn’t french nor were his parents but they gave him a french name, and would just be an all-around hassle. I have kids with two fairly easy names, and people have still spelled them wrong on official documents that were a nightmare to correct, and I just imagine that would happen many times over with [name_m]Benoit[/name_m].

I do love the sound of [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] though. Plus I love the Knives Out reference.

In the US, I think you would be better served using [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] as a middle, or by using a more english-familiar name like [name_u]Bennett[/name_u], [name_m]Benson[/name_m], [name_m]Benton[/name_m], [name_m]Benno[/name_m], or [name_m]Bently[/name_m].

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I would go for it! Very handsome and one could easily call him Ben/Beni/Benni if [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] was hard for them to remember how to pronounce!

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Might be too [name_u]French[/name_u] for an American kid…

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[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_m]Benoit[/name_m]. Makes me immediately hear music from La [name_f]Boheme[/name_f] as well as hearing the jazz musician who has played with the Puppini Sisters.

Benoirt [name_m]Marcel[/name_m], [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m], [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Guy[/name_m], [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_u]Henri[/name_u] – so many wonderful choices! [name_u]Or[/name_u] Jean-Benoit!

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I’m not a fan, in [name_u]French[/name_u] it sounds dated and is too close to benêt which means like a sort of village idiot (but that’s just my feeling), and I think people here in the US would have trouble pronouncing it (as someone who’s also on the hunt for a boy name that works in both countries I had to ditch a lot of names for this kind of reasons lol)

As for connections, I can think of a few people I’ve met and the Pope basically.

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[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] gives me warm, cosy vibes, but it’s got style and flair!

I can’t comment on the its usability in the US, but I do think in the UK, people might need a bit of help with the pronunciation, so it might be similar there. I still think it could work :person_shrugging:

[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_u]Augustine[/name_u]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Phineas[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Philippe[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] Caspien
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_u]Miles[/name_u]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Simeon[/name_m]
[name_m]Benoit[/name_m] [name_m]Caius[/name_m]

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Ahh thank you everyone! Pleasantly surprised that is much better received here now as opposed to the last time I asked. [name_u]Chris[/name_u] [name_m]Benoit[/name_m] had been brought up back then too, but it seems like it’s less strong of a tie now; the main concern I had was the similarity in sound to a sex toy, which was my biggest concern, honestly. I was encouraged that it hasn’t even been mentioned here; although I’m not sure I can trust that it will never not be an issue if I ever use the name. I’m still feeling him out, but it is encouraging that the overall impression of the name is favorable.

Thanks again, berries!

benoit pronounced buhn-wah? that’s how i instinctively read it, but let me know if that’s incorrect!

i have little knowledge of the frencg langauge, but for some reason benoit reminds me of a teddy bear, academia, and midday. i can imagine a little benoit in class munching on a peanut butter sandwich, or as an older man studying old blessed lore in a library. VERY beautiful name. i have no associations, positive or negative. i’ve never heard the name before!

for pairings, i’d think of . .
benoit antoine
benoit leopold
benoit luc

Honestly beside Benoit Blanc, this is my second thought. I feel like it’s a pretty well known French name, you’d still get some mispronunciations but I think it should be ok. The toy is honestly my biggest worry about it but I think people like Benoit Blanc and Chris Benoit are more associated, at least when you see it on paper

I know a young [name_m]Benoit[/name_m]! :blush: He is [name_u]French[/name_u], but I met him outside of [name_u]France[/name_u] and nobody had a problem pronouncing it. He needed to correct some people, but overall it was fine.
I like [name_m]Benoit[/name_m], it’s cozy. :teddy_bear: