Why is Big Ben called "Big Ben?

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dementedmind_06

The main bell, officially known as Big Ben, is the largest bell in the tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster.

The name Big Ben was first given to a 14.5 tonne (16 ton) hour bell, cast on 10 April 1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by Warner's of Cripplegate. The bell was never officially named, but the legend on it records that the commissioner of works, Sir Benjamin Hall, was responsible for the order; another theory is that the bell may have been named after heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt who was popular at the time. There's also a story that the bell was to be called "Victoria" in honour of Queen Victoria, but the ceremonial speeches went on so long that some joker shouted out "Oh just call it Big Ben and have done with it!" and the name stuck.

(is it seriously that hard to go to wikipedia and search for big ben, took me less time to search, copy, paste than it probably took for you to ask the question)

â™¥shushinâ™¥

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben#The_main_bell

ropman1

Because Ben is big.

lou

big ben is the bell

Woody Black

Big ben is the name of the bell inside - not the building.

Samantha T

because it's big and ben is a cool name!

omex

because the bell is big and big goes with ben " big ben" see big tom big dick ooops or big harry wouldnt work

little weed

It's the name of the Bell.

Uncle Sid

Give the best answer award to 'demented' as he's the only one who mentioned Benjamin Hall. As everyone else has mentioned, it's not the tower's name but the bell (despite the fact you didn't refer to it as the tower in the question). Just to tell you as additional info that the tower itself, commonly known as Big Ben is called St Stephen's tower. Poor St Stephen, never has his name used properly. Big Ben and also people prefer to refer to St Stephen's Day as Boxing Day (apart from in the carol 'Good King Wenceslas')