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Basil

Boy's name · #2022 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Basil — on the books since 1880, #2022 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 13,000 boys have carried the name since. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Basil is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Basil ranks in other countries and regions.

#254 in Belgium (2025) · #629 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,124 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,294 in France (2025) · #1,443 in Canada (2025) · #1,447 in Sweden (2025) · #2,177 in Italy (2024) · #1,339 in Austria (2024) · #3,695 in Ecuador (2023) · #741 in Ireland (2020) · #592 in Scotland (2016) · #238 in New Zealand (1969).

Famous Basils

• Basil of Caesarea — 4th-century Christian bishop, theologian, and saint (329–379)
• Basil II — Byzantine emperor from 976 to 1025 (958–1025)
• Basil I — Byzantine emperor from 867 to 886 (811–886)
• Basil Rathbone — English actor (1892–1967)
• Basil Fool for Christ — Russian saint (1468–1552 or 1557)

In stories & tradition

• Basil Fawlty — Fictional character from Fawlty Towers
• Basil Brush — Anthropomorphic fox
• Basil Hawkins — One Piece (manga)

What Basils become

Among 581 notable people named Basil:

Military figures appear 2.49× more often than among typical names — e.g. Basil L. Plumley, United States Army soldier (1920–2012).

Similar names: Jules · Baron · Theron · Dashiell · Emile · Leander

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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