unisex name · in the US
Basil
BAZ-ul or BAY-zul (English)
- Origin Greek
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 14,912
Basil is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 97 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Basil is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 1924, when 281 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 34,180 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Basil Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 124 |
| 1890s | 244 |
| 1900s | 334 |
| 1910s | 1,726 |
| 1920s | 2,456 |
| 1930s | 1,705 |
| 1940s | 1,293 |
| 1950s | 1,090 |
| 1960s | 873 |
| 1970s | 577 |
| 1980s | 572 |
| 1990s | 661 |
| 2000s | 556 |
| 2010s | 742 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 585 |
How Popular Is Basil?
In 2025, Basil was given to 97 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Basil Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Basil
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Basil Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Basil over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Basil is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 26% girls · 945 babies
- France Boys' 0% girls · 200 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 179 babies
- Canada Boys' 0% girls · 107 babies
How to Say Basil
- English BAZ-ul or BAY-zul
Basil in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Basil
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Basil — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Basil
How popular is the name Basil?
In 2025, Basil was given to 97 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Basil a girl's or a boy's name?
Basil is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Basil?
Basil has 2 syllables.
When was Basil most popular?
Basil peaked in 1924, when 281 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Basil a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Basil currently ranks #1,150 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.