The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Basil!

Comments and insights on the name Basil: | Edit

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Personal experiences with the name Basil: | Edit

Name of my newborn son (2009) and a Bishop in Wichita, KS.

Nicknames for Basil: | Edit

Bas (pronounced BAYZ)
Vasily
Vasha
Baz

Meanings and history of the name Basil: | Edit

Greek meaning - Royal, Kingly
Arabic meaning - Brave, Valiant

Famous real-life people named Basil: | Edit

St. Basil the Great, who lived in 4th century Cappadocia (Turkey)
early movie star Basil Rathbone

Basil in song, story & screen: | Edit

The lead character in the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers," is named Basil Fawlty. The show ran from 1975 to 1979, but lives on in reruns around the world. Played by John Cleese, Basil Fawlty is a misanthropic snob with a short temper who is often the victim of his own schemes.

Basil the Bear is a character on "Sesame Park," the Canadian version of the children's show "Sesame Street."

The name of a novel by Wilkie Collins, published in 1852.

Basil is the name of a "Sherlock Holmes"-like mouse detective in Eve Titus's book "Basil of Baker Street" and in Disney's 1986 animated movie "The Great Mouse Detective