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.
It was brought to England by the Crusaders, having been common in the eastern Mediterranean. It is more often used in Britain and Europe than in the US and is also the name of a common herb.
In Arabic, Basel is a name for boys that means "brave, fearless, intrepid". It is derived from the B-S-L root.
Different derived names in different languages include Barsegh in Armenian; Basile in French; Basilius in German; Basilio in Italian and Spanish; Basileo in Galician; Vasyl in Ukraine; Vasile in Romanian; Vasil in Bulgarian; Vasilije in Serbian; Vasily in Russian; Bazil, Bazsó, Vászoly and Vazul in Hungarian.
"Basil" has over 50 variants, among them being: Bacile, Basel, Basley, Baseley, Basil, Basilic, Basilides, Basileios, Basileo, Basile, Basilie, Basilio, Basilius, Basilone, Bazeel, Bazeelius, Bazley, Bazeley, Bazell, Bazelle, Bazil, Bazyli, Breasal, Pasi, Vasil, Vasyl, Vasile, Vaseleos, Vasilchenko, Vasileos, Vasilije,, Vasko, Vasa,, Vasović, Vasilios, Vasileios, Vasilius, Vasillaq, Vasilus, Vassilis, Vasili, Vassili, Vasiliy, Vassilij, Vassily, Wassily, and Wasilewski.
Basil may refer to the following people:

Rulers

;variant Baselios
;variant Basilides
;variant Bassel
;variant Bacile
;variant Baseley
;variant Basile
;variant Basilio
;variant Basilius
;variant Basilone
;variant Bassil
;variant Bazeley
;variant Bazell
;variant Bazil
;variant Bazley
;variant Pasi
;variant Vasil
;variant Vasilchenko
see Vasilchenko
;variant Vasile
;variant Vasili
;variant Vasilj
; variant Vasko
; variant Vasović
;variant Vassili
;variant Wasilewski