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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Benny for a girl?

88 replies

Yrmyfavourite · 06/01/2023 09:02

Hello!

32 weeks with DC2 but, don't know what we're having yet and really struggling for names! Already have a little girl called Marley so, as you can tell we like gender neutral names.

I just came across a video of a girl called Benny and I love it. DH not convinced and is making Benny Hill references... 😂 Does anyone have any recommendations for longer names that could be shortened to Benny as a nickname or, similar style names?

Also, any boy name recommendations would be greatly received too!

Thank you 😊

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daemonologie · 17/01/2023 02:14

Not with Benny I'm afraid. It sounds like the name of a dog. Also you may as well call your daughter Penelope as Benny is going to be mistaken for Penny countless times that people are going to run you up the wrong way.
However you love the name and that's what counts. A previous poster suggesting Benita might be the way to go. But then if she's going to be called Benny anyway, just name her that.

CallieQ · 17/01/2023 01:26

If you have a girl give her a girl's name...

CallieQ · 17/01/2023 01:25

Benny! 😂

Daisybuttercup12345 · 17/01/2023 00:52

Terrible!!!
Bonita
Brianna
Bryony
Kim
Vivienne
Hilary
Jamie
Ashley
Robyn

HerReputationMadeItDifficultToProceed · 16/01/2023 08:12

Makes me think "Gareth is a Benny" and as such, it's a no from me.

Benny for a girl?
TerraNostra · 16/01/2023 08:02

AliceMcK · 06/01/2023 09:28

Made me think of Bennie and the Jets. I actually like it.

just googled

”Bennie" is a female character Elton has described as a "sci-fi rock goddess." Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, told Esquire, "'Bennie And The Jets' was almost Orwellian - it was supposed to be futuristic. They were supposed to be a prototypical female rock 'n' roll band out of science fiction. Automatons."

What a brilliant fact, I never knew that. That would be a great inspiration to call a girl Bennie.

I am sure that by the time your child grows up very few people will think of Benny Hill (awful man though). Older adults will just need to get over it.

I also like Stevie for Steph(f)anie as mentioned upthread.
Charlie (Charlotte)
Harry (Harriet)
Henry (Henrietta)

Fuckstix · 16/01/2023 07:55

mathanxiety · 09/01/2023 04:33

How about Bennett?
Would be surnamey/ unisex and would shorten to Benny. Benny is quite nice imo. I know a Denise who is Denny, also nice.

I am in the US and know two little girls named Bennett. Surname names are popular here.

Oh god no way, not Bennett for a girl's first name. That's awful.

Marcipex · 15/01/2023 12:53

I like Remi.

Daley
Beau
Harper

Id love to have a Marley and Beau.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 15/01/2023 12:47

Benny as full name?? Why saddle an adult woman with that?

Lacienay · 15/01/2023 12:36

Sorry, it’s awful. As would be Lennie.

Remi is a better unisex name with a similar sound.

Or Carey

gulliblestravels · 15/01/2023 00:25

Lenny is nicer

june0707 · 15/01/2023 00:24

Not great, sorry.

mathanxiety · 09/01/2023 04:33

How about Bennett?
Would be surnamey/ unisex and would shorten to Benny. Benny is quite nice imo. I know a Denise who is Denny, also nice.

I am in the US and know two little girls named Bennett. Surname names are popular here.

AmandaMirandaPanda · 08/01/2023 12:47

Lots of female forms of Benedict in various languages - Benita, Benedikte, Benoîte, Benedetta, Bente/Benthe, Benáta, Benina... none of them very common in English-speaking countries, I don't think.

I think Bethany works, although as others have said it may lead to more familiar short forms like Beth later on.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 08/01/2023 12:26

Reminds me of Minnie Driver's character in Circle of Friends. Love that book/film, but it's not a great name for a girl.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/01/2023 09:32

I knew a Benedetta who was known as Bene

Not B for Benedetta?!

DurdleSnore · 08/01/2023 08:09

I like Bethany (bit dated though in comparison to Marley) but I expect she’ll get called Beth whether you like it or not.

AssumingDirectControl · 06/01/2023 20:19

Spenn · 06/01/2023 09:14

Benny on the loose!

You must be around my age. This still makes me laugh to this day, I don’t know why 😂

Shylo · 06/01/2023 20:01

I knew a Benedetta who was known as Bene

bobbytorq · 06/01/2023 20:00

Err, no.

bluechameleon · 06/01/2023 19:53

Definitely not as a stand-alone name. I think the best long form is Benedicta - I taught a very spunky Benedicta once.

WolverineBlueyy · 06/01/2023 19:39

Benna instead maybe?

Discobabe98 · 06/01/2023 19:33

If by any chance the video you saw of a girl named Benny was a tiktok of the three daughters and their mum dressing like them etc, one of them said in the comments that her real name was Bethany Smile

I don’t like Benny btw.. I like unisex names but this is just too masculine/ older man-esque for my taste, even though it’s just a nickname! But that is just my opinion and with a longer name to fall back on it’s not that bad i suppose

GoodbyeLondon · 06/01/2023 19:27

1ittlegreen · 06/01/2023 19:01

Benny is too crossroads for me.

My son has two Bunnys in his class and I'm not talking rabbits!

I also know a little Bunny (a girl named Bunny). I don't mind it.

How about?

Marley and Rowan
Marley and Harry (Harriett)
Marley and Lenny (Leonora)
Marley and Jem (Jemima)
Marley and Franky (Francesca)
Marley and Rory (Aurora)

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 06/01/2023 19:24

Sorry but it’s awful. Can you imagine the nicknames as she gets older? Benny means getting drunk in my area so names would go like “benny on it again”, “you up for a benny” “ hen you on the benny”

Also used by some as a derogatory term for somebody who claims benefits.

How about Anni-Frid or Agnetha?!

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