Basil (name)

Basil

Pronunciation	BAZ-el, /ˈbæzɪl/
Gender	Male
Origin
Word/name	Greek
Meaning	"royal, kingly"
Other names
Related names	Basel, Basile, Basilic, Basilides, Basileios, Basilie, Basilio, Basilius, Bazeel, Bazeelius, Bazil, Bazyli, Vasil, Vasile, Vaseleos, Vasileos, Vasily, Vassili, Vasilije, Vassilios

The name 'Basil' (royal, kingly), Template:Pron-en, has origins from the male Greek name Vassilios (Greek: Βασίλειος, female version Bασιλική) which first appeared during the Hellenistic period. It is derived from "basileus" (Greek: βασιλεύς) a Greek word of pre-Hellenic origin meaning "king", from which words such as basilica and basilisk (via Latin), as well as the eponymous herb (via Old French) derive, and the name of the Italian region Basilicata, which had been long under the rule of the Byzantine Emperor (also called basileus).

It was brought to England by the Crusaders, having been common in the eastern Mediterranean. It's more often used in Britain and Europe than in the US and is also the name of a common herb. In Arabic, the name means "brave". Different derived names in different languages include: Basile in French; Basilius in German; Basilio in Italian and Spanish and Vasil in Bulgarian and Albanian.

Basil has many variant forms: Basel, Basile, Basilic, Basilides, Basileios, Basilie, Basilio, Basilius, Bazeel, Bazeelius, Bazil, Bazyli, Vasil, Vasile, Vaseleos, Vasileos, Vasilije, Vasilios, Vasilios, Vasilius, Vasilus, Vassilis, Vasili, Vassili, Vasily, Vassilij, Vassily and Wassily.

People

Historical religious leaders

• Basil of Caesarea, also known as Basil the Great, a 4th century bishop of Caesarea
• Basil of Ancyra, a 4th century martyr.
• Basil Fool for Christ, a Russian saint
• Basil of Ostrog, Saint Vasilije, Serbian religious leader
• Basil the Physician, Bogomil
• Basil of Seleucia, a metropolitan bishop of Seleucia ad Calycadnum
• Basil the Confessor

Historical emperors

• Basil I the Macedonian, Byzantine E. (811-886, ruled from 867)
• Basil II Bulgaroktonus, Byzantine E. (958-1025, ruled from 976)
• Basil of Trebizond (died 1340, ruled from 1332)

Generals

• Basil (Byzantine general) Byzantine general in the 10th century who reconquered Cyprus.
• Basil Boioannes, Catepan of Italy

Fictional characters

• Basil, fictional protagonist of Wilkie Collins' 1852 novel, Basil; A Tale of Modern Life.
• Basil Hallward, an artist from The Picture of Dorian Gray who was responsible for painting said picture.
• Basil in the Basil of Baker Street novels and the movie The Great Mouse Detective
• Basil, character in the television series Fraggle Rock
• Basil, Manuel's pet "Siberian hamster" in Fawlty Towers
• Basil, Alex's pet snake in A Clockwork Orange
• Basil, character in the anime and manga series Reborn!
• Basil Stag Hare, character in the Redwall book series.
• Basil, a fictional character on the Playhouse Disney TV series Johnny and the Sprites.

Surname

• Toni Basil, musician, video artist, actress, and choreographer

External links

• Basil - Origin of Baby Names
• Basil (English) - House of Names
• Basil (French) - House of Names.