The name Basil, has origins from the male Greek name Βασίλειος
("Basileios"). It is derived from Gr. βασιλεύς a word of pre-
Hellenic origin meaning kingly or royal from "basileus" which
means king. The female version is Bασιλική ("Vasiliki"). In
Arabic, the name means "brave" and the name has been derived in
different languages to include: Basile in French; Basilius in
German; Basilio in Italian and Spanish and Vasil in Albanian.
Basil has many variant forms: Basile, Basilic, Basilides,
Basileios, Basilie, Basilio, Basilius, Bazeel, Bazeelius, Bazil,
Bazyli, Vasil, Vasile, Vasileos, Vasilije, Vasilios, Vasilios,
Vasilius, Vasilus, Vassilis, Vasili, Vassili, Vasily, Vassilij,
Vassily and Wassily. There are several saints named Basil,
including the following: - Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea
(January 1) - Basil of Ancyra, Bishop of Ancyra and 4th century
martyr (January 2) - Memory of St. Basil the Great's family
(January 8) - St. Basil, or St. Eustratios the Wonderworker
(January 9) - Miracle of St. Basil