indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Meaning & History
Of Latin origin. Due to an early association as a saint's name and a papal name, often said to mean "blessed." Originally the Latin elements are 'bene-' meaning "good" or as an adverb "well" plus '-dict,' meaning "spoken." Thus, the literal meaning is "well spoken." Benedict is borne as both a given name and a surname. In the American mind, especially, this name is often associated with the Revolutionary War general Benedict Arnold, who gained notoriety for his thwarted plan to surrender West Point, New York to British forces.