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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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NewYearNora · 06/01/2023 10:04

Benita or Benedicte?

..... but yes, Benny Hill all the way for me too.

Paq · 06/01/2023 10:04

Benny is just not a nice sounding name. For a boy or a girl.

SophiaLarsen · 06/01/2023 10:02

My friend's mother is known as Ben. Her full name is Bernice. The family pronounce it Buhneice.

RambamThankyouMam · 06/01/2023 09:56

I like it!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 06/01/2023 09:51

We have a very longstanding friend who is Benita, known as Beni. She is wonderful.

Whataretheodds · 06/01/2023 09:49

I like Benny for a girl.

Bernadette
Benita
Brienne
Benjamina
Benedicta

Anything where her initials are BEN

BuffaloCauliflower · 06/01/2023 09:46

I know 2 female Benny’s, one old one young. Young is Bethany nn Benny, and other is Berenice nn Bennie with an ie.

I think it’s a lovely choice

AmeliaEarhart · 06/01/2023 09:44

I think Benja (probably pronounced Benya) is a Nordic girls name. I’m sure I read a book set in Denmark or Sweden with a female character of that name.

I’m not generally a fan of the trend of appropriating boys names and declaring them “gender neutral”, but I do love the suggestion of Claude (as short for Claudia) upthread.

threecupsofteaminimum · 06/01/2023 09:44

Same as pp who said Benny off Crossroads!

It's not very nice, sorry. What about Betty? Bonnie is lovely.

Consufed · 06/01/2023 09:43

Bethany is a lovely idea.

Els1e · 06/01/2023 09:35

Sorry but don’t like Benny. What about Billie?

Original poster
Yrmyfavourite · 06/01/2023 09:32

Thank you for so many replies! Some of which have really tickled me 😊

I like the idea of Bethany as, I have a friend named the same and it also lends to a much more feminine option so, when she grows up, she would have more of a choice!

Thank you!

OP posts:
Mercurial123 · 06/01/2023 09:29

No I hate it.

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."

Choconut · 06/01/2023 09:27

I think it's awful, I just think of Benny from Crossroads <shudder>.

I'd go with Bethany which literally has all the letters of Benny in it (so works) and is a really nice name - rather than something that no one's ever heard of or something horrible just so you can have the nn Benny.

It also has the ee sound at the end just like Marley but is much softer sounding so isn't too samey.

ALS94 · 06/01/2023 09:26

Personally not a fan for either gender but names are very subjective so go with your heart.

Some other gender neutral names with nicknames
Francesca - Frankie
Leonora/Elena - Lenny
Stefanie - Stevie
Jessica - Jessy
Olivia - Ollie

EmilyGilmoresSass · 06/01/2023 09:24

Monkeytapper · 06/01/2023 09:18

Belinda?

Cold maybe have Benny a nn

I had actually considered Belinda with nickname of Billie for my daughter

TheFlis12345 · 06/01/2023 09:23

The main character in the Maeve Binchy book Circle of Friends is called Benny. Minnie Driver plays her in the film version, it’s short for Bernadette

EmilyGilmoresSass · 06/01/2023 09:22

I quite like it as a nickname, but I'd probably use a more formal name on birth certificate incase the child wants a choice when older. Bennett sprung to mind but I suppose that's maybe seen as masculine (I have a 'boys' name myself and I actually prefer it to having an overly girly name). Bernadette also spring to mind for some reason.

SBAM · 06/01/2023 09:21

@SummaLuvin Alexandra could be shortened to Andie/Andy.

@Yrmyfavourite there’s a Bernarda in my daughters class at school, that would shorten to Benny. Though I agree with your husband that a lot of adult will think of Benny hill.

Flipflops123 · 06/01/2023 09:19

Benjamima

Monkeytapper · 06/01/2023 09:18

Belinda?

Cold maybe have Benny a nn

MerryMarigold · 06/01/2023 09:18

Bennifer?

Only joking. I do like Benny for a girl. I'm wracking my brains for a decent long name (not Benhilde) but I can't think of one. I hope someone else can.

Fundays12 · 06/01/2023 09:17

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”

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