The Baby Name Wizard

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

Comments and insights on the name Vasili: | Edit

Vasili is a small village in Cyprus, near the Leonariso and Lythragomi villages. Since 1974 Vasili has been occupied by Turkey and the legal owners of the village have been forced to leave their land.

Personal experiences with the name Vasili: | Edit

My nephew is Vasili Alexander; while the name is unique, it suits him perfectly.

Nicknames for Vasili: | Edit

sili (pronounced see-lee)

Meanings and history of the name Vasili: | Edit

The origin of the name Vasili is Slavic, Russian, German
Slavic - Protector, Guardian

Vasili is the Slavic form of the Greek name Basil, which has origins from the male Greek name Vassilios. It is derived from the Greek "basileus", a word of pre-Hellenic origin meaning "king".

Famous real-life people named Vasili: | Edit

Vasili I of Moscow Grand Prince from 1389-1425
Vasili II of Moscow Grand Prince from 1425-1462
Vasili III of Russia Tsar from 1505-1533
Vasili IV of Russia Tsar from 1606-1610
Basil Fool for Christ (1469-1557), also known as Saint Basil, or Vasily Blazhenny
Vasily Zaytsev (1915-1991), sniper for the Soviet Union during the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II

Vasili in song, story & screen: | Edit

Written Word:
Prince Vasili Kuragin, character in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace

Screen:
Enemy at the Gates (2001), starring Jude Law as Zaytsev, revealed his life during the Battle of Stalingrad, most notably displaying an ongoing rivalry between a Nazi marksman, Major König.
Vasili, character on the T.V. show "24" in the 2007 season
Vasili Talenieko, played by Tom Cruise in the film 'The Matarese Circle' (2010)
Vasily, played by Sam Redford in the film 'K-19: The Widowmaker' (2002)
Captain 2nd Rank Vasily Borodin, played by Sam Neill in 'The Hunt for Red October' (1990)