Basil (name)

Basil
Pronunciation BAZ-el, /ˈbæzɪl/
Origin
Word/Name Greek
Meaning "royal, kingly"

The name Basil ( /ˈbæzəl/; royal, kingly; 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 is 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, Galician and Spanish, Basileo in Galician, Vasile in Romanian and Vasil in Bulgarian.

Basil has many variant forms: Basel, Basile, Basilic, Basilides, Basileios, Basileo, Basilie, Basilio, Basilius, Bazeel, Bazeelius, Bazil, Bazyli, Breasal, Pasi[1], Vasil, Vasyl, Vasile, Vaseleos, Vasileos, Vasilije, Vasilios, Vasilios, Vasilius, Vasilus, Vassilis, Vasili, Vassili, Vasiliy, Vassilij, Vassily and Wassily.

Basil may refer to the following people:

Contents

Rulers

Generals

Religious figures

First name

Surname

Fictional characters

References

  1. ^ Pasi

External links