Benny

Benny is an English diminutive of Benedict or Benjamin, both of which have distinct roots. Benedict derives from the Latin Benedictus, meaning blessed, while Benjamin comes from the Hebrew name Binyamin, meaning son of the right hand or son of the south. The name gained widespread use as an independent given name, particularly in the twentieth century, partly through associations with figures such as the Swedish musician Benny Andersson of ABBA and American comedian Benny Hill. Related forms include Ben, Bennie, Benedict, and Benjamin.