BOOM BOOM! <- that was my first thought LOL I have always known it to be a mans name, but apart from Basil Brush and Basil Faulty, I don't know anyone called Basil. I don't have a problem with the name - it's nothing outrageous - it's just an old name that doesn't get used much anymore. I couldn't use it personally because B names just don't go with our last name, but i reckon because it holds so much value to you, then you should use it and if you don't use it as a first name, definitely use it for a middle name.