| Meaning | royal, kingly |
| Origin | Greek |
| Gender | gender neutral |
| Opposite gender | Basil |
| Popularity | Moderate |
| Length | 5 |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Syllabification | Ba-sil |
Basil, an ancient and noble name with Greek origins, brings to mind strength, authority, and a regal aura. Derived from "Basileios," meaning "royal" or "kingly," Basil has a rich historical significance that makes it a unique and powerful choice for a baby boy.
The name Basil has inspired numerous notable individuals throughout history, such as Basil Rathbone, the renowned English actor, and Basil of Caesarea, an influential early Christian bishop. It has also found its way into popular culture through fictional characters like Basil Fawlty from "Fawlty Towers" and Basil of Baker Street from Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective."
With variations like Vasilios, Vasili, and Vasilis, Basil's international appeal continues to grow. Common nicknames like Baz and Bas add an endearing touch to this strong and distinguished name.
For parents seeking a name that exudes strength, leadership, and a touch of tradition, Basil stands as an excellent choice. As they watch their little prince grow, they can rest assured that the name Basil will always carry an air of nobility and sophistication.
| Baz |
| Bas |
| Sil |
| Basil Rathbone | English actor known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes |
| Basil Wolverton | American cartoonist known for his unique style |
| Basil Spence | Scottish architect known for his modernist designs |
| Basil Dearden | British film director and producer |
| Basil Poledouris | American film composer, known for "Conan the Barbarian" score |
| Basil I of Byzantine | Byzantine Emperor from 867 to 886 |
| Basil II | Byzantine Emperor from 976 to 1025, known as "Basil the Bulgar Slayer" |
| Basil of Caesarea | Early Christian bishop and theologian |
| Basil Sellers | Australian businessman and philanthropist |
| Basil D'Oliveira | South African-English cricketer |
| Basil Zempilas | Australian television and radio presenter |
| Basil Brown | British archaeologist known for the Sutton Hoo excavation |
| Basil O'Connor | American lawyer and humanitarian, co-founder of the March of Dimes |
| Basil Bernstein | British sociologist and linguist |
| Basil Fitzherbert | British diplomat and writer |
| Basil Paterson | American politician and lawyer |
| Basil Schott | American football player and coach |
| Basil Kelly | Irish rugby player |
| Basil Tsimbidaros | Greek water polo player |
| Basil Fawlty | Character from the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers" |
| Basil Hallward | Character from Oscar Wilde's novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" |
| Basil Exposition | Character from the "Austin Powers" film series |
| Basil of Baker Street | The mouse detective in Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective" |
| Basil Stag Hare | A character from the "Redwall" book series by Brian Jacques |
| Basil Karlo/Clayface | A DC Comics supervillain |
| Basilisk | A giant serpent creature in mythology and fiction |
| Basil E. Frankweiler | Character from the novel "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" |
| Basil Argyros | A character from the video game "Assassin's Creed" |
| Basil Hawkins | A character from the anime and manga series "One Piece" |
| Basil Q. Foutley | Character from the animated series "As Told by Ginger" |
| Basil Bertrand | A character from the book "The Little White Bird" by J.M. Barrie |
| Basil Plumley | A character from the film "We Were Soldiers" |
| Basil Brush | Fictional fox puppet character from British television |
| Basil Blackwood | A character from the novel "The Sorrows of Satan" by Marie Corelli |
| Basil Eidenbenz | A character from the TV series "The Witcher" |
| Basil Fotherington-Thomas | A character from the radio comedy "Beyond Our Ken" |
| Basil Farnham | A character from the movie "The Addams Family" |
| Basil the Bat Lord | A LEGO character from "LEGO Castle" sets |
| Basil Slogum | A character from the movie "Sneakers" |