Royal or kingly
Derived from the Greek name Basileios, it signifies royalty or sovereignty. It became popular in the early Christian era due to Saint Basil the Great and later gained a botanical association with the culinary herb.
About 74 boys were named Basil in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
British actor famous for playing Sherlock Holmes
4th-century bishop and theologian
The eccentric and high-strung hotel manager · Fawlty Towers
The artist who paints the titular portrait · The Picture of Dorian Gray
A popular British puppet fox · The Basil Brush Show
The same feel as Basil — far less common.
Hidden gems that stand out.
