Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Ancient Greek, in quiet but steady use in the UK.
Basil is a boy's and girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek Basileios, meaning 'royal, kingly.' Saint Basil the Great (330–379 AD) was a Doctor of the Church and one of Christianity's most influential theologians, establishing the monastic tradition that shaped Eastern Christianity.
With over 13,000 U.S. births, Basil carries both regal Greek heritage and the warm fragrance of the beloved culinary herb. It is having a quiet revival — understated, genuinely distinguished, and impossible to mistake for anything trendy.