Basil (name)


The name Basil comes from the male Greek name Vassilios, which first appeared during the Hellenistic period. It is derived from "basileus", a Greek word of pre-Hellenic origin, meaning "king", from which words such as basilica and basilisk as well as the eponymous herb basil derive, and the name of the Italian region Basilicata, which had been long under the rule of the Byzantine Emperor.
Derived names in different languages include Barsegh in Armenian; Basile in French; Basilius in German; Basilio in Italian and Spanish; Basílio in Portuguese; Basileo in Galician; Vasyl in Ukraine; Vasile in Romanian; Vasil in Bulgarian; Vasilije in Serbian; Vasiliy in Russian; Bazil, Bazsó, Vászoly and Vazul in Hungarian.
Notable people with the name include:

Rulers

Generals

Religious figures

Variant ''Baselios''

Variant ''Basilides''

  • Basilides, Egyptian Gnostic religious teacher

Given name

Surname

Variant ''Bacile''

Variant ''Baseley''

Variant ''Basile''

Variant ''Basilio''

Variant ''Basilius''

Variant ''Basilone''

  • John Basilone, American soldier and U.S. Marine, recipient of the Medal of Honor

Variant ''Bassil''

Variant ''Bazeley''

Variant ''Bazell''

Variant ''Bazil''

Variant ''Bazley''

Variant ''Pasi''

Variant ''Vasil''

Variant ''Vasile''

  • ''see Vasile#As a surname''

Variant ''Vasili''

Variant ''Vasilj''

Variant ''Vasko''

Variant ''Vasović''

Variant ''Vassili''

Variant ''Wasilewski''

Fictional characters