Benno

German
"bear"

Benno Origin and Meaning

The name Benno is a boy's name of German origin meaning "bear".

Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.

Benno came to attention in the U.S. via the father and son duo of Benno Schmidt Sr. and Jr. Senior was the venture capitalist who invented the term venture capitalist and Junior was the president of Yale University. Benno is also the appellation of a student character in Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose.

# 1567 on Nameberry

Benno Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Benno Popularity

Famous People Named Benno

  • Saint Benno of Meissen
    11th century German bishop
  • Benno Furmann
    German actor
  • Benno Moiseiwitsch
    Ukrainian,British pianist
  • Benno Janssen
    American architect
  • Benno C. Schmidt Sr. and Jr.
    American venture capitalist and educator
  • Benno Mohlmann
    German footballer
  • Benno de Goeij
    Dutch trance music producer
  • Benno Besson
    Swiss actor/director
  • Benno Schotz
    Scottish artist
  • Benno Batali
    son of American Celebrity Chef Mario Batali

Benno in Pop Culture

  • Benno "Bambi" Hirschberger
    Character on German Soap Opera "Unter Uns"
  • Benno Gilbert
    character in an episode of Law and Order SVU