Bennett

Bennett for boys#40 US

Bennett Cerf was an eminent publisher--one of the founders of Random House--and renowned punster.

Bennett is a popular surname, and has many noteworthy bearers, from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice family (with one 't') to indomitable singer Tony. Bennett has been used as a surname in England since the early thirteenth century.

Bennett for girls#912 US

Bennett, with its 'ett' ending, has a softer feel compared to some other Ben- names, and with celebrity style Benny and Beni catching attention, this variation of Benedict with its gentle meaning has seen more use for girls in recent years. Alternate spellings include Bennette and Bennet — the latter which may appeal to any Jane Austen fans.

Bennett's unisex appeal was highlighted when NFL player Jason Kelce and his wife, Kylie, chose Bennett Llewellyn for their daughter in 2023. Meanwhile, influencer Jaci Marie Smith named her daughter Benny in 2024, suggesting Ben- names might just catch on for girls.

In fact, in a recent year, Bennett was given to 234 girls in the US compared to 5095 boys. While that does mean just over four percent of all Bennetts born were girls, it's not an insubstantial number — especially when you consider it was given to 146 girls the year before. As such, it sat within the US Top 1100, alongside Agnes, Jovi, Casey, and Cordelia.

Bennett with its modern feel and links to Pride and Prejudice (with the Bennet spelling) might appeal more to some parents than Bernadette or Benjamina — plus you've got the nickname options of Benni, Betty, Etta, Betsy, and Nettie too.