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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on name Bento for a boy

57 replies

sig0992 · 02/08/2024 12:34

Hello!

I’m originally from Brazil, and my husband has Italian heritage, so we’re considering the name Bento for a boy. It means ‘blessed’ in Portuguese and goes very well with our last name. However, I know people will link it to the bento boxes, which doesn’t really bother me, but I also don’t want him to be upset with us later in life 😂 Am I overthinking it, or should I go for another name? We plan on raising our kids in the UK.

I also love Matteo and Theo. Thank you!

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TheSquareMile · 02/08/2024 13:19

Would Benicio be a suitable alternative?

Matteo and Theo also nice names too.

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 02/08/2024 13:18

I’ve lived in a community with a large Portuguese populations and knew many Bento’s it’s a lovely name and surprisingly rarely shortened to Ben or Benny but proudly used in its unshortened version.

HaveYouSeenRain · 02/08/2024 13:13

Matteo is beautiful, forget Bento and blame this idea on the hormones.

HaveYouSeenRain · 02/08/2024 13:11

bingobanjo · 02/08/2024 12:41

What about Benito? Same vibe but without the bento box connection.

Benito for a boy with Italian heritage 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ no way! Next you suggest a German call their child Adolf

TomatoSandwiches · 02/08/2024 13:10

Matteo is nice

Please don't call him Bento.

Prontehpronto · 02/08/2024 13:09

No to Bento, sounds lovely as a name but sure kids might tease 'Bent Toe' etc

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 02/08/2024 13:08

Can’t do bento. That’s lunch! Do it as a middle name.

I LOVE Matteo!!

I have a 22 year old Theo/Theodor so of course I love that name too.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 02/08/2024 13:06

My first thought was Frey Bentos 🥧

Sethera · 02/08/2024 13:05

Berga · 02/08/2024 12:58

It's just me that thought of Fray Bentos then?

Yes, go for Matteo.

I thought of Fray Bentos too. Not heard of the lunchbox but I'm old!

Maraa · 02/08/2024 13:04

Yeh I originally thought of a Bento box, I’m so sorry. It’s a lovely meaning behind the name. What about Matteo Bento, then you still have it in there but he won’t be made fun of? I love Matteo, such a beautiful name which translates well in all countries if you don’t end up raising your children in the UK.

KirstenBlest · 02/08/2024 13:02

Is your surname Box? Benedict or a variant would be better.

Berga · 02/08/2024 12:58

It's just me that thought of Fray Bentos then?

Yes, go for Matteo.

Littlemissnikib · 02/08/2024 12:56

Straight away thought of Bento Box.

How about Ben?

Lifeinlists · 02/08/2024 12:55

He'd be Ben by week 2 so just call him that. He won't thank you for calling him the same as a lunch box.
Otherwise Theo and Matteo in that order.

FatArse123 · 02/08/2024 12:55

I am another who immediately went to "box". Bento boxes are not a bad thing in themselves, and I think it's quite a nice name, aside from the association.

RareAmberAsterisk · 02/08/2024 12:52

Yes, people will immediately think of the lunch boxes. It's a bit unavoidable I'm afraid.

If I were you I would find something else, but ultimately it's your decision.

If you do go with it, you (and your son when he's older) will need to explain the origins of the name to everyone you meet who will inevitably comment on it.

Pemba · 02/08/2024 12:51

The word 'bent' used to be a derogatory term for 'homosexual'. It might be used less nowadays but people will still remember. Then there's the lunch boxes. I really, really would NOT choose Bento, living in the UK. Could you have just Ben?

Or Matteo or Theo are lovely names.

BoleynMemories13 · 02/08/2024 12:48

Bento just screams 'product' name to me. Matteo is fabulous though!

AdaColeman · 02/08/2024 12:44

Matteo is so much better than Bento!
Give your kid a break!

MonsteraMama · 02/08/2024 12:43

I prefer Matteo, personally.

Bento for me just immediately is linked to lunch (although it doesn't have a direct translation in Japanese and is actually derived from a Chinese word for "convenience")

All names can and do have strange and interesting meanings. My name means "snare". It's a really common name so no one cares about it's odd meaning. If you really, really like Bento, who cares if some people will take it to mean lunch? Lunch is hardly a bad thing (and he'll probably end up being Ben anyway!)

WhatThenEh · 02/08/2024 12:42

This reply has been deleted

This post has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

CinnamonSwirlx · 02/08/2024 12:41

My instant thought was “bent toe” he might be paranoid wearing flip flops when he’s older 😂🙈

LOVE the name Matteo though

FionnulaTheCooler · 02/08/2024 12:41

I would worry that kids at school would pick up on the "Bent" part of the name and make gay jokes, that would have happened when I was at school but maybe things are more enlightened these days. Theo is lovely.

bingobanjo · 02/08/2024 12:41

What about Benito? Same vibe but without the bento box connection.

Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2024 12:40

I really like the other 2 suggestions much more than Bento
He will probably just be Ben by the age of 3 or 4 if you go with Bento anyway

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