Basil
Boy name · #2022 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Basil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Basil in class?
Basil scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Basil is most common
Geography matters for names, and Basil is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Basils were CA (6), PA (6), TN (5), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.