Benno

German

"bear"

Benno Origin and Meaning

The name Benno is a boy's name of German origin meaning "bear".

Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.

Benno came to attention in the U.S. via the father and son duo of Benno Schmidt Sr. and Jr. Senior was the venture capitalist who invented the term venture capitalist and Junior was the president of Yale University. Benno is also the appellation of a student character in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose.

Benno Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1595 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Benno

• 1595 Nameberry 2025
• 157 Germany 2016

20 Names Similar to Benno

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Benno.

• Quiller
• Aberdeen
• Bas
• Orwell
• Rafa
• Quimby
• Pascoe
• Geordie
• Lazlo
• Sholto
• Rupin
• Eldridge
• Baz
• Fife
• Galway
• Dov
• Moritz
• Windsor
• Tolliver
• Rollo

Famous People Named Benno

• Saint Benno of Meissen 11th century German bishop
• Benno Furmann German actor
• Benno Moiseiwitsch Ukrainian,British pianist
• Benno Janssen American architect
• Benno C. Schmidt Sr. and Jr. American venture capitalist and educator
• Benno Mohlmann German footballer
• Benno de Goeij Dutch trance music producer
• Benno Besson Swiss actor/director
• Benno Schotz Scottish artist
• Benno Batali son of American Celebrity Chef Mario Batali

The name Benno in Pop Culture

• Benno "Bambi" Hirschberger Character on German Soap Opera "Unter Uns"
• Benno Gilbert character in an episode of Law and Order SVU