Comments (Meaning / History Only)
Means King in Greek, and the name of three Roman/Byzantine emperors. Basil means extremely courageous in Arabic, since in the old times and up to recent antiquity, a king did not spare his life, but offer it in defending his own people. The name became traditionally for nobility and Ecclesiastic office, Basil the great is an orthodox saint.
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The name Basil can also be used as a diminuitive of the female equivalent, Vasiliki.
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The name Basileios is an ancient Greek word meaning king, royal, someone who belongs to the king.
(Basileus|King: ancient word with many meanings, initially it was not close to its current concept of Head of State)
Example of ancient Greek use of the word:
"The Royal Stoa", the ancient agora of Athens. Seat of the King Archon (in honor of which was named "Vasileios Stoa", ie. The "Stoa/Gallery of the King"), where it was exposed the laws of Solon, also a gathering place of the House of the Supreme Court.
The word Basileios on hellenistic period and mainly during the byzantine period, until these days, it is used as a male first name. (Known examples: Basil the Great of Caesarea, the byzantine emperors Basil I the Macedonian, Basil II the the Bulgar-slayer)
Also, as first name to female persons it was used the word Basileia (meaning "kingdom"), as a paraphrase of the ancient Greek word (to differentiate from the male name).
Modern times, the female version of name Basileios ("Basil") is Vasiliki, with exactly the same meaning as the ancient Greek word ("Royal").
Nicknames nowadays are plenty some of which are "Vasilis, Bill, Lakis, Vassos..." but none of them meets the glamor and the importance of the original.
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(Basileus|King: ancient word with many meanings, initially it was not close to its current concept of Head of State)
Example of ancient Greek use of the word:
"The Royal Stoa", the ancient agora of Athens. Seat of the King Archon (in honor of which was named "Vasileios Stoa", ie. The "Stoa/Gallery of the King"), where it was exposed the laws of Solon, also a gathering place of the House of the Supreme Court.
The word Basileios on hellenistic period and mainly during the byzantine period, until these days, it is used as a male first name. (Known examples: Basil the Great of Caesarea, the byzantine emperors Basil I the Macedonian, Basil II the the Bulgar-slayer)
Also, as first name to female persons it was used the word Basileia (meaning "kingdom"), as a paraphrase of the ancient Greek word (to differentiate from the male name).
Modern times, the female version of name Basileios ("Basil") is Vasiliki, with exactly the same meaning as the ancient Greek word ("Royal").
Nicknames nowadays are plenty some of which are "Vasilis, Bill, Lakis, Vassos..." but none of them meets the glamor and the importance of the original.
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