Basil
Boy name · #2022 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Basil? In official American birth records, Basil has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Basil is currently the #2022 boy name in the United States — 74 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2429, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 24,324 boys born in 2025 was named Basil.
The 145-year story
Basil first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 11 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 281 boys were named Basil — good for #354 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Basil per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Basil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Basil in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Basil is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Basil will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Basil is most common
State-level data for Basil is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Basil
Statistically, parents drawn to Basil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cyril, Lemuel, Emil, Cecil, and Hershel.
CyrilLemuelEmilCecilHershelEmileHoseaAubrey
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Basil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 74 | #2020 |
| 2024 | 76 | #2012 |
| 2023 | 74 | #2032 |
| 2022 | 88 | #1826 |
| 2021 | 74 | #2000 |
| 2020 | 58 | #2323 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2042 |
| 2018 | 69 | #2065 |
| 2017 | 59 | #2240 |
| 2016 | 60 | #2228 |
| 2015 | 52 | #2429 |
| 2014 | 44 | #2705 |
| 2013 | 56 | #2278 |
| 2012 | 46 | #2632 |
| 2011 | 44 | #2699 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 57 | #2287 |
| 2008 | 31 | #3486 |
| 2007 | 58 | #2257 |
| 2006 | 64 | #2062 |
| 2005 | 48 | #2399 |
| 2004 | 41 | #2599 |
| 2003 | 57 | #2006 |
| 2002 | 57 | #1943 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Basil?
In official American birth records, the name Basil first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 11 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Basil a popular boy name?
Basil ranked #2022 among boys in 2025 with 74 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2429.
When was the name Basil most popular?
Basil peaked in 1924, when 281 American boys received the name (ranked #354 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Basil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 24,324 newborn American boys was named Basil. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.