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BabyNames
Boy name#925 of boy names

Basil

Pronounced B AE1 Z AH0 L (ARPABET)

  • 2 syllables
  • Peaked 1924
  • 145 years in use
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How popular is Basil?

Basil is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 13,438 children — the 925th most common boys' name on record.

It peaked in 1924, went quiet for most of a century, and is climbing again. Its best single year was 1924, when 281 children were given it.

012525037550018901920195019802010
1924Boys: 281Girls: 0

Characteristics

  • 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
Pronunciations:
B AE1 Z AH0 L
Stress pattern:
10
Syllables:
2

Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.

Names like Basil

Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.

Sibling names for Basil

Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is the name Basil?
Basil ranks 925th among boys' names in US records, with 13,438 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 681.
Is Basil a unisex name?
No. Basil is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
When was Basil most popular?
1924, when 281 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.