Basil

At a Glance: Name: Basil – Meaning: royal, kingly – Origin: Greek (via Latin Basilius) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: BAY-zul

---

Basil is a boy's name of Greek origin that came into English via the Latin Basilius, and it carries the meaning "royal, kingly." It's pronounced BAY-zul (IPA /ˈbeɪzəl/). For parents drawn to clean, modern names with a regal meaning behind them, Basil fits that brief.

Meaning & Origin of Basil

Meaning: Royal, kingly.

Origin: Greek (via Latin Basilius).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Basil

Phonetic: BAY-zul   IPA: /ˈbeɪzəl/

Popularity of Basil

Basil hit its peak popularity in 1897 at #322, when 33 baby boys were given the name; by 2024 it ranked #2009, with 76 boys named Basil that year, according to Social Security data covering 1880-2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Basil Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Basil, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Calix
• Cosmo
• Eryx
• Pete
• Teo
• Agnes

FAQ

What does the name Basil mean?

Royal, kingly. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Basil)

How do you pronounce Basil?

Basil is pronounced BAY-zul (IPA: /ˈbeɪzəl/).

Is Basil a popular name right now?

Basil peaked at #322 in 1897 and is ranked #2009 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name