Reply With QuoteI know a Basil in real life, and he is a real twerp so my perception of that name isn't great. I do like this kind of name though, anything with an x or z really grabs me, and Baz isn't bad as a nickname.
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Basil – brutally honest opinions needed
My adored grandfather’s name is Basil. He is a very intelligent and very cheeky old man and even though we have lived on opposite sides of the world for my whole life (he’s in the UK) I feel a real connection to him.
DH and I both love the name Basil and love even more the nickname Baz. Both Basil and Baz go really well with our surname, it has a great ring to it, it kind of sounds like Baz Luhrmann (but a bit different, and yeah I know Baz is not his real name).
Basil/Baz was kicking around on our short list for DS but we chickened out.
We could never name a child straight out Baz, it would have to be officially Basil with Baz as a nickname.
I just really want to know.
1) Did you even know that Basil was a man’s name, or do you just think of it as a garden herb that’s good with tomatoes.
2) Do you go straight to thoughts of Basil Fawlty and hear Sybil calling Basil!
3) Could YOU name a child Basil? Really?
Last edited by Epacris; October 20th, 2010 at 01:12 PM.
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I know a Basil in real life, and he is a real twerp so my perception of that name isn't great. I do like this kind of name though, anything with an x or z really grabs me, and Baz isn't bad as a nickname.
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My first thoughts are Basil Zemplas.. yes or Basil from faulty towers.
If it weren't for associations, its a reasonably handsome name... but my hubby and I personally like more traditional names so probably wouldnt go for something like that.
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It's funny your grandfather lives in the UK because when I heard the name I immediately thought of a witty english man hehe
I like it, it's different, not common and would be very cute for a little boy and more refined for an older man. I think a kid makes their name what it is. If your son is cool, quirky or whatever if he is a Basil it will suit him to a tee, I say if you love it do it but just don't ask too many opinions from ppl, we made that mistake and ended up feeling apprehensive about naming DD what we have chosen, but we decided we love it and regardless we are naming her that and ppl will have to love it or zip it!
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I certainly did know Basil was a man's name, however I don't know of any!
In all honesty, I wouldn't name my child Basil, but that's just me. There are plenty of names I wouldn't use for my child, however if you have a strong connection to the name, use it!
FWIW, if this bub is a boy DH is adament it's middle name is going to be Noel, after his father. I really, really hate this name but DS's middle name is Dean, after my father, so it's only fair that if it turns out to be a boy, he gets the middle name of DH's father. So whilst I don't like the name, I have come to terms with the fact that it could be his middle name.
You have the advantage of liking the name and having a connection with it
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Makes me think of Basil Fawlty
TBH I don't really like it as a first name...could you have it as his middle name if you weren't that sure about it as a first name? And you could still have Baz as a nickname? Your grandfather sounds like a great namesake though!
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While I wouldn't pick it I think it's a great name! It's different without being different, IYKWIM?
Oh and I totally get the whole picking the 1st name based of the possible nick names lol I decided ages ago that if we have had twins with one of each they would be Oliver and Madison so they could be Olly and Maddy.
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My first thought, I just turned to DH and said "BAAASIL!"
I am a huge FT fan and this will alsways be my first thought when I hear Basil.
I thikn it is lovely but I would use it as a second name, the same way I would use Gertrude or Aloysius as a middle name, I couldn't do it to my child lol
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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.
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it was my father's name - and is DS1 middle name. i LOVE the name - would have done 1st name but I didnt want my son tohave my dad's name (felt too weird). I dont think of it as old and stuffy, i think its pretty funky...
When I hear Basil... I think of Basil Brush.
So personally I hate it. When I was younger early high school years, I used to have spiky hair and my brothers best friend would always call me Basil Brush to tease me. If I see Basil Brush on ABC Kids it takes all my strength not to throw something at the TV.
But having said that it isn't me naming a child
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personally, No, I wouldn't use it, but I would use it as a middle name....
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I do think of basil fawlty or basil brush the cartoon
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I think of fawlty towers too. Sorry babe! But I do love that show...
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i personaly wouldnt use it, but thats my opinon, growing up my mum and step dad had "family friends" they referd to them as, his name was basil, and i always thought his name was bazza, as i never herd him called anything else! so keep in mind, bazza is a high posibility of a nick name aswell!
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Ahh, thank you so much for your opinions so far.But I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it even more now!
But it’ll be a girl now 'ya know, and I’ve got nutin' for girls (and we won’t find out till it pops out btw).
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I love it! When I first read the thread title I thought "Now that's an old fashioned name" (in a good way)
When reading through the replies I did indeed think Fawlty Towers but have never heard of this Basil Brush character... if it's an older cartoon figure then your kids prob wont associate it with that anyway. But then I also have Mabel and Hazel near the top of my girls names list too and DH thinks they are too old fashioned.
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Yep I know of a Basil! Working in a nursing home you come across all those gorgeous old names!
Never watched Fawlty Towers so nope!
Yes I could name a child Basil. Call me crazy but I think it's quite cute, yet mature for an adult.
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