Ben Affleck, widely recognized in Hollywood, carries a middle name that often surprises fans: Géza. The Oscar-winning actor’s full name is Benjamin Géza Affleck, and the significance of this name reveals a deeply emotional story connected to history and honor.
During a 2015 event honoring him at the Writers Guild of America, Affleck shared the origin of his middle name. It was chosen to honor a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who had a profound impact on his mother. This story adds a layer of meaning to Affleck’s identity beyond his fame.
My parents named me after a Hungarian friend of theirs named Geza,
Affleck revealed, as reported by the Boston Herald.
“When I got to be in the fourth or fifth grade I threw a huge fit and I was like, ‘You are the worst namer of people in the world!’ … Everybody calls me, ‘Ben-Gay’ … This was way before being gay was as cool as it is now.”
Affleck explained that this Hungarian friend of his parents died around the time of his birth. He was a Holocaust survivor who showed extraordinary courage by leaping from a train bound for death camps and attempting to rescue others. This bravery exemplified the heroic spirit his mother deeply respected.
She told me 6 million Jews were murdered and that men like him, brave and selfless, were what stood between us and the evil that people were capable of doing to one another. That name has never been anything short of a tremendous honor to me since that day. I came to understand and better identify with the suffering of others.
How Affleck’s Middle Name Sparked Interest During His Marriage to Jennifer Lopez
Ben Affleck’s middle name came back into the spotlight when he married Jennifer Lopez in 2022, a union that captivated fans not only because of their surprise wedding in Las Vegas but also due to the unexpected details revealed about his full legal name.
Jennifer Lopez shared the emotional moments on her website, OnTheJLo.
We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.
Their marriage led Lopez to legally change her name to Jennifer Affleck, which generated an enthusiastic response online.
Fans playfully coined nicknames like J. Fleck and J. Flo, noting Lopez’s new last name and drawing connections to Affleck’s past relationship with Jennifer Garner, who was also known as Jennifer Affleck during their marriage. Yet, among the buzz, the appearance of Affleck’s middle name, Géza, on their marriage license intrigued many.
This glimpse of the middle name prompted discussions and curiosity about its unique Hungarian heritage and the story behind it, bringing renewed attention to a name that carries a powerful legacy tied to courage and remembrance.
