Benedict
Boy name · #815 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Benedict? In official American birth records, Benedict has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 305 baby boys were named Benedict, placing it at #815 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1205, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,902 boys born in 2025 was named Benedict.
Babies named Benedict per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 143-year story
Benedict first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 8 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 305 babies and a rank of #814. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Benedict against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Benedict in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Benedict is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Benedict will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Benedict is most common
Geography matters for names, and Benedict is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Benedict is most common in MN (0.9 per 1,000), KS (0.8 per 1,000), WI (0.5 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000), VA (0.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Benedict is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Benedict
Statistically, parents drawn to Benedict tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Barron, Bridger, Bennet, Benicio, and Everest.
BarronBridgerBennetBenicioEverestYitzchokJeremiasBjorn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Benedict | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 305 | #814 |
| 2024 | 256 | #914 |
| 2023 | 245 | #928 |
| 2022 | 234 | #967 |
| 2021 | 220 | #996 |
| 2020 | 187 | #1069 |
| 2019 | 179 | #1102 |
| 2018 | 210 | #984 |
| 2017 | 169 | #1129 |
| 2016 | 152 | #1229 |
| 2015 | 153 | #1205 |
| 2014 | 140 | #1272 |
| 2013 | 109 | #1492 |
| 2012 | 87 | #1729 |
| 2011 | 58 | #2232 |
| 2010 | 87 | #1739 |
| 2009 | 85 | #1774 |
| 2008 | 101 | #1571 |
| 2007 | 89 | #1700 |
| 2006 | 130 | #1284 |
| 2005 | 158 | #1048 |
| 2004 | 54 | #2164 |
| 2003 | 58 | #1987 |
| 2002 | 57 | #1943 |
| 2001 | 51 | #2050 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Benedict?
In official American birth records, the name Benedict first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Benedict a popular boy name?
Benedict ranked #815 among boys in 2025 with 305 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1205.
When was the name Benedict most popular?
Benedict peaked in 2025, when 305 American boys received the name (ranked #814 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Benedict?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,902 newborn American boys was named Benedict. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.