Basil
Basil was the 2022nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 74 babies. Its best year was 1897, when it ranked 322nd; the most babies were born in 1924 (281). Over the last ten years it has moved up 408 places. More babies were named Basil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,022 boys, up 304 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 74boys
- Girls and boys
- 24% girls, 76% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1924281 babies
- Total since 1880
- 13,538babies recorded
Basil popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,432 | #2,022 | 23 | 74 |
| 2020 | #6,363 | #2,326 | 18 | 58 |
| 2010 | #9,883 | #2,583 | 11 | 47 |
| 2000 | — | #1,743 | — | 64 |
| 1990 | — | #1,337 | — | 69 |
| 1980 | — | #1,179 | — | 60 |
| 1970 | — | #1,016 | — | 64 |
| 1960 | — | #733 | — | 110 |
| 1950 | — | #658 | — | 113 |
| 1940 | — | #490 | — | 140 |
| 1930 | — | #386 | — | 219 |
| 1920 | — | #383 | — | 243 |
| 1910 | — | #383 | — | 46 |
| 1900 | — | #359 | — | 37 |
| 1890 | — | #436 | — | 17 |
| 1880 | — | #572 | — | 11 |
How popular is Basil, counting every spelling?
Basil is the most common spelling of a name family that had 80 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 80 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | 74 | #2,022 | 386 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Basil?
74 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Basil (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Basil born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 113 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Basil.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Basil?
About 5,400 people born in the US named Basil are alive today, with a median age of 47; half are between 24 and 68. That makes Basil mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Basil by state
How common Basil was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (1.9×). In 42 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Basil: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Basil, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Basil
How popular is the name Basil?
Basil was the 2022nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 74 babies. Its best year was 1897, when it ranked 322nd; the most babies were born in 1924 (281). Over the last ten years it has moved up 408 places. More babies were named Basil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Basil a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 24% girls, 76% boys given the name Basil in the US.
Where is Basil most popular?
In 2021–2025, Basil was most common in Pennsylvania (0.08 per 1,000 boys), followed by Missouri and Ohio.