I have really fallen in love with the name [name]Benedict[/name]. [name]Just[/name] how usable do you think it is in the US?
I think it is quite useable, especially since many people have a new association with the name because of Pope [name]Benedict[/name], whereas before most people thought of [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name].
Then there’s the glorious British actor [name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch–don’t get me started!
I’ve asked myself that same question. I love the name, and [name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch of [name]Sherlock[/name] fame is a good association. <3 But I’m a History teacher, so the name still gives me pause. I don’t have an issue with the name, but I worry that others might.
I hate to say it, but our country is so poorly educated, I think most people nowadays wouldn’t even know who [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name] was.
I think as long as his middle name isn’t [name]Arthur[/name] or [name]Arnold[/name], you’re safe 
My father is a professor of [name]History[/name], and I asked him how he felt about the name [name]Benedict[/name]. He said he was considering it for my brother who became [name]Benjamin[/name] instead (in 1989), but he thinks if [name]Ben[/name] were born now he would be a [name]Benedict[/name].
I think this name is definitely usable. A fresh twist on [name]Benjamin[/name]. … and I’m ashamed to admit a guilty pleasure tv show of mine is Fairly Legal on USA and there is a character on there named [name]Benedict[/name] and it totally works.
This exactly. I can’t even recall [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name]'s name being mentioned in school. My history class last year thought [name]Benjamin[/name] [name]Franklin[/name] was a president, if that tells you anything…
[name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch has completely redeemed the name for me.
I love [name]Benedict[/name]. I just love its meaning, “blessed”. I had to look up [name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch to know who he was, and I am not sure I love the Pope connection (nothing against the Pope–I just am not Catholic, so he really means nothing to me). I dislike the [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name] connection, but I met a kid named [name]Benedict[/name] a while ago and he seemed to wear it well, so maybe it wouldn’t be a problem. Either way, I do love the name. I’m still not sure how usable it is, though…
I do like the sound of the name, but in my family we we commonly use the term being a “benedict” relating to [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name]… However, like the above people noted, a lot of kids/people don’t know this association so it may be totally fine. Good luck on whatever you decide!
I am so glad I am not the only one! lol. I advise you watch the second season and see for yourself that [name]Benedict[/name] really works! 
I actually really love the name. I prefer [name]Bennett[/name] (partly because of the [name]Austen[/name] reference) but [name]Benedict[/name] is very pleasant and handsome. I might worry about “dick” teasing but I guess if you used [name]Ben[/name] as a rule that would be minimal.
I think that the name is usable. The [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name] connection is certainly there, but I don’t think that the association is too huge of a deal. To be honest, were you to use it, I’d suspect that he’d get more “eggs benedict” teasing than “[name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name]” teasing, both of which seem very mild to me. He can always just hide behind “[name]Ben[/name].” I do also think that the name will experience a small surge in popularity soon due to how devoted [name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch’s fanbase appears to be.
Hmm I will be the voice of contention. I would immediately think of [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name] if introduced to a little [name]Benedict[/name], and while I’m sure I’d get over it, I’d think the parents must not be well educated or not caring about the association to name their child that. I could never use it, tho I too like the [name]Brit[/name] actor! I’ve never seen the show, fairly legal, so I don’t have that association.
Funnily enough, i’ve read two birth announcements in the past month alone in [name]Ireland[/name] with a child have the name benedict. once a first and the second time a middle. that i’d say is due to the pope connection, such as the many middle aged [name]John[/name] Pauls and JPs in [name]Ireland[/name] at the moment.
I’d think of Eggs [name]Benedict[/name] before [name]Benedict[/name] [name]Arnold[/name].
[name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch definitely made this name usable, at least for me! I never would have considered it before, honestly.
Also, the current Catholic pope is [name]Benedict[/name] XVI, and one of the greatest Catholic monks ever was St. [name]Benedict[/name]. That redeems it for the religious, adding [name]Benedict[/name] Cumberbatch for the pop culture, I’d say it’s usable