Name
Basil
Meaning
Basil is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “royal, kingly”.
Basil comes from the Greek basileios, royal, the root of basilica and the name of a towering fourth-century saint and two Byzantine emperors. English speakers also hear the herb, itself named the royal plant, while Greeks still give the original form Vasilis freely.
Common in Greek and Arab Christian communities; a quirky rarity in the US.
Popularity in the United States
Boys
Ranked #1000 in 1983 · peak #1000 in 1983
Data: US Social Security Administration, top-1000 ranks.
At a glance
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Questions
Basil is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning “royal, kingly”. Basil comes from the Greek basileios, royal, the root of basilica and the name of a towering fourth-century saint and two Byzantine emperors.
Basil is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. Common in Greek and Arab Christian communities; a quirky rarity in the US.
The name Basil comes from Greek. Basil comes from the Greek basileios, royal, the root of basilica and the name of a towering fourth-century saint and two Byzantine emperors. English speakers also hear the herb, itself named the royal plant, while Greeks still give the original form Vasilis freely.
Basil is pronounced BAZ-il.
More names that mean royalty
Names that share this meaning.