Bengt is a Swedish male given name derived from the Old Norse word 'Bengt', which itself comes from the Germanic element 'Beugalaus'. This element translates to "bent" or "bow-legged," and was likely used as a nickname for someone with such an appearance. The name Bengt has been in use in Sweden since the Middle Ages, but it gained significant popularity during the 19th century, particularly among the Swedish nobility. Today, Bengt is still considered a traditional Scandinavian name, albeit less common than it once was. Notable figures bearing this name include Swedish writer and poet Carl Michael Bellman, who often signed his works as Bengt, and Bengt Söderberg, a prominent Finnish-Swedish author.
"Bengt was a popular baby boy's name in 1973 with six newborns given this name that year."