Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch Is Named in Honor of His Grandfather - Meet Benedict Cumberbatch’s Son

Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch lives mostly away from the public eye, partly because his father, Benedict Cumberbatch, wanted to keep him away from people's "scary behavior."

Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch is the first child born to renowned actor Benedict Cumberbatch and his wife, playwright, and theater director Sophie Hunter.

When the child was born, his parents intended to keep his identity under wraps. They did well keeping him out of the spotlight and did not immediately reveal his name or the reasoning behind their decision.

Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch's Parents Wed Just Months before His Birth

Christopher's parents announced in January 2015 that they were expecting their first child. The announcement happened when his parents were about to get married.

The boy's mother and father didn't let their wedding plans fall through. A month later, on Valentine's Day, they tied the knot in a private ceremony on the Isle of Wright in England with close family and friends.

A week after the wedding, Sophie showed off her pregnancy bump at the 2015 Academy Awards, where Benedict earned a nomination for best actor in the movie "The Imitation Game."

Sophie looked radiant in a red gown paired with silver earrings, a matching gold purse, and a bracelet, but her growing bump stole the show. Benedict looked sharp in a white tuxedo and black tie.

Their child was eventually born on June 1, 2015. Enjoying parenthood privately, Benedict revealed in a "Graham Norton show" 2015 interview that he was pleased to build his family traditionally. He added:

"I've become a father and a husband, and in the right order."

What Is the Meaning behind Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch's Name?

Since Benedict was born in London, U.K., fans thought his baby would be given a royal name. He and his wife kept their child's name a secret and revealed it only after three months.

Despite the fans' royal baby name expectations, the child's name is a tribute to Benedict's family. His first name, Christopher, was inspired by the character Christopher Tietjens, played by Benedict in the TV drama "Parade's End."

The boy's second name, Carlton, was a family name passed down from the boy's paternal grandfather, Timothy, and then to Benedict. His parents would call him "Kit" in addition to his name.

Benedict said becoming a father meant "everything" to him. He was ecstatic to begin this new chapter in his life with his wife and young son, whom he assured would need all of his help in the world.

From the start, he knew he wanted to be a parent, and he never saw it as an excuse to get away from everything. If he had any more children in the future, he hoped to expand his family with more boys.

Benedict Cumberbatch also expressed his desire to have a large family because he was raised as an only child.

Christopher Carlton Cumberbatch's Parents Protect His Privacy

Christopher is rarely seen in public, and little is known about him besides his name. Keeping his son off the spotlight was Benedict's best choice.

Benedicts said some people thought his wife and son were part of his publicity stunt. Other fans would end up stalking, which he described as "obsessive, deluded, [and] really scary behavior."

Although cautious of prying fans, he occasionally shared small details about his son. He once revealed in an interview that he brought Christopher along on the set of the Marvel film "Doctor Strange."

Benedict said his then ten-month-old son liked to bite things his eyes fancied. He remembered that an essential item of his Marvel character, the Eye of Agamotto, had been bitten by his son.

Benedict Cumberbatch also expressed his desire to have a large family because he was raised as an only child. His wish to have a big family came true in the end, as he welcomed two boys later.

Christopher gained two younger siblings: Hal Auden, born in March 2017, and Finn, born in 2019. Both boys' lives were hidden from the public eye as their parents wanted to keep their family structure tight and low-key.